West Virginia man killed Saturday when his rig rear-ends another semi on I-65

Sunday, June 2, 2013, 2 a.m. — A West Virginia man died Saturday afternoon in a collision involving two tractor-trailer rigs at the 101 mile marker in the northbound lanes of Interstate 65.

The Kentucky State Police say Kenova Wayne, 56, was driving a 2007 Kenworth rig northbound while approaching a slower moving 2000 Freightliner operated by Avdija Huskic, 38, of St. Louis. Investigators say Wayne swerved his rig to the right in an attempt to avoid colliding with the slower rig in front of him but was unsuccessful. The driver’s side front of Wayne’s rig struck the right rear portion of the Freightliner’s trailer.

Wayne was ejected from his rig onto I-65; his rig continued on until is came to a stop partly blocking the right lane of the interstate. Huskic was able to bring his rig to a controlled stop.

When Kentucky State Police troopers arrived they found passers-by administering CPR to the victim, who was later pronounced dead at the scene by the Hardin County Coroner. Huskic was transported by KSP to Hardin Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released.

The crash shut down I-65 for several hours before one lane was opened while the trucks were unloaded. KSP troopers were assisted by Hardin County EMS, Elizabethtown Fire and Rescue, and the Kentucky Department of Transportation.

The investigation is ongoing.

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