Suspect in crash indicted

Local News

March 5, 2009

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By HEATHER PYLES, Staff Writer The Commonwealth Journal Thu Mar 05, 2009, 09:23 AM EST

SOMERSET — — A man indicted by a grand jury on several charges in connection with a deadly four-vehicle crash in northern Pulaski County appeared in court yesterday.

Samuel S. Jenkins’ defense attorney, Andrea Simpson, asked Circuit Court Judge David A. Tapp Thursday to consider a bond reduction in the case that began on May 12, 2008 when Jenkins, 21, of Monticello, reportedly ran his vehicle, a 2005 Chevrolet, into the back of a 2003 Pontiac driven by Tanya K. Clark, of Indiana.

The impact pushed Clark’s vehicle into the rear of a 2002 GMC operated by Murrell Denney of Waynesburg, who was waiting to turn left off of U.S. 27, and then into the northbound lane, where it was hit again by a 1999 Chevrolet driven by Paula F. Weddle of Liberty. Weddle had been traveling northbound on U.S. 27.

Clark’s vehicle then crossed back into the southbound lane and struck the Denney vehicle a second time. Clark was extricated from her vehicle and flown to the University of Kentucky Medical Center for treatment. She later died from what the Fayette County Coroner’s office called a “traumatic brain injury” and other trauma.

Clark’s address was listed as Peru, Ind., but she had been living in Somerset for approximately eight months before the accident, according to the Fayette County Coroner’s Office.

Weddle and three passengers in her vehicle, Tonya New, of Crab Orchard, Steven Zelaya, also of Crab Orchard, and Dorothy Foley, of Eubank, were taken to Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital for treatment of their injuries and later released.

Denney and a passenger in his vehicle, Reda Denney, were uninjured.

Jenkins was indicted by a Pulaski County Grand Jury in late November 2008 on one count of second-degree man-slaughter in connection with Clark’s death, three counts of first-degree assault, three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment and one count of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Eddy F. Montgomery opposed the request for the bond reduction and Tapp denied the request.

Simpson said she would file more motions in the case. A trial date is set for April 20.

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Pulaski carries Girdler to win

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s primary election, it was impossible to miss the colorful signs dotting nearly every Pulaski roadway. The names in the race for the 15th State Senatorial District seat popped out: A.C. Donahue. Chris Girdler. Mark Polston.

Once citizens hit the ballots, however, the results mirrored the dimensions of the signs themselves: Chris Girdler stood the tallest.

Girdler, deputy district director for Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, ran away with the votes inside Pulaski County’s borders, earning 3,926 votes for 62.05 percent of the total number cast.

That number more than doubled the next highest vote-getter, businessman Mark Polston, who raked in 1,624 votes for 25.67 percent.

However, Polston — who owns Classic Carpet, a home-flooring business located just off the southern 914 bypass — can claim a moral victory ... three of them, in fact. In all three counties in the district other than Pulaski — those being Adair, Casey, and Russell Counties — Polston actually edged out Girdler.

In Adair, Polston beat Girdler 629 to 394. In Casey County, it was 538 to 417, and in Russell, it was 1,862 to 1,038.

Polston said he just “couldn’t pull it out with the numbers” and that “the machine worked for” Girdler in Pulaski County.

“I think that was their strategy — I think they had a Pulaski County strategy all along,” said Polston. “They played the political game well.”

Polston said the difference between his and Girdler’s campaigns was that “mine was a very, very grass roots campaign,” he said. “I did not have a political machine behind me. I understand how this process works, and in this instance, he prevailed.”

As for why Girdler didn’t take three of four counties, the winning candidate — since there are no Democrats in the race, winning the Republican primary was effectively a final victory for Girdler — said he didn’t have an answer for that.

However, “I believe things happen for a reason and I hope the long and strenuous campaign will only heighten my desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past,” said Girdler.

“Regionalism is a goal of mine, and I look forward to helping all four counties,” he added, noting that he campaigned heavily in each of them.

Sen. Vernie McGaha, the long-time state senator whose seat the candidates were vying for, actually supported Polston after Liberty’s Todd Hoskins dropped out of the race earlier this month.

Donahue, a local attorney, got 556 votes in Pulaski County, 8.79 percent of the vote. He only received 145 votes in Russell County, 74 in Adair County, and 75 in Casey County, where hometown candidate Hoskins almost matched him with 71 votes despite no longer being officially in the race.

Polston said he’s “still digesting” what happened, and though “the process has been a very good experience for me,” he wouldn’t commit to running again in the future. “I wouldn’t shut the door to anything, but I’m not opening any doors either.”

Still, “I think I got a lot of people involved in the process that had not been involved before and would not have been otherwise,” he said. “A lot of people got out and worked really hard, got motivated to talk to friends and neighbors. I think a lot of people became involved through this campaign that are going to be involved for a long time.”

Girdler stressed his “positive message” and said that Rogers is a “mentor and good friend” that he would turn to for advice in dealing with a frequently combative legislative body in Frankfort, one for which Girdler hopes to help change the culture.

Girdler said that he was “confident and optimistic” during the day Tuesday because he’d “worked extremely hard.” Nevertheless, the realization that he’d won gave him “chill bumps,” he said.

“I’m absolutely honored,” said Girdler. “The position of state senator is more than an honor, more than an office. It’s a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.

“I pledge to be the people’s state senator,” he added. “I look forward to working with everyone to move this region forward.”

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