In March 12 Issue
By Derek Aaron
Times Journal Reporter

A Friday afternoon crash killed a mother and her son, and injured two other of her children, on the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway, about seven miles east of Russell Springs, according to state police.

A 2001 Chevrolet being driven by Candice Elaine Johnson, 28, originally of Blackwater, Va. was traveling east on the parkway when she apparently lost control of her vehicle, crossed the median and was hit in the passenger side after entering the westbound lane of the parkway by a 2001 Chevrolet being driven by Joseph Matthew Dalton, 40, of Russell Springs, according to emergency officials.

Johnson had recently taken up residence in Bowling Green, according to police.

According to the report, Johnson and three passengers in her vehicle, Kaden Johnson, 3, Christian Johnson, 5, and Logan Bruner, 8 months, were all belted or restrained in some manner.

The four were taken to the U.K. Chandler Medical Center in Lexington via three air ambulances where both Candice and Kaden Johnson were pronounced dead a short time later by Fayette County coroner Larry Owens.

The parkway was shut down for some time as cleanup at the scene ensued. Traffic was backed up in both east and west lanes of the parkway for more than an hour Friday evening.

Emergency officials from both Russell and Pulaski counties as well as state police responded to the scene.

Kentucky State Trooper Dewayne Holder investigated the crash which occurred around 4:20 p.m., according to the police report.