Downtown crash with dump truck sends five to hospital

A crash downtown Paducah Wednesday morning sent five people to the hospital and blocked traffic for three hours.

The crash took place just before 8:30 a.m. Wednesday when a minivan collided with a dump truck loaded with gravel at the intersection of 3rd and Jefferson Streets. 

The driver of the dump truck, 57-year-old John J. Vogt of Paducah, told police a van pulled from a stop sign into his path and he was unable to stop. 

A witness reportedly told police they saw the van pull into the truck's path.

Officers said the driver of the van, 30-year-old Justin Rowland of Smithland, was unsure of what happened.

Rowland and four of his children, ages 10, 9, 7, and 5, were all taken to Baptist Health Paducah. Later, Rowland, along with the 10 and 7-year-old were flown to an out-of-state hospital.

Vogt was uninjured.

Paducah Police detectives and the collision reconstruction team are continuing their investigation. 



(Photo courtesy of JP's Traffic)