Eubank woman airlifted to UK Medical Center after train slams into car off Ky. 1247

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Mary Rutheford, 53, was operating a 2003 Ford Focus Monday on Freedom Church Road in Eubank and was stopped at a train crossing when her car collided with a northbound Norfolk Southern train. Rutheford, who is married to Eubank Volunteer Fire Department Chief Norman Rutheford, was airlifted from the scene and flown to the UK Medical Center, where she was listed in fair condition as of Monday evening.

January 30, 2012

By HEATHER TOMLINSON, CJ Staff Writer Commonwealth Journal The Commonwealth Journal Mon Jan 30, 2012, 07:41 PM EST

Somerset —

A woman was injured yesterday after her car collided with a moving train at a crossing in northern Pulaski County.

Mary Rutheford, 53, of Gradison Road, Eubank, was at a train track crossing Monday afternoon on Freedom Church Road, located about 10 miles north of Somerset in Eubank, when the 2003 Ford Focus she was operating collided with a Norfolk Southern train.

Pulaski County Sheriff’s Deputy Cody Cundiff’s investigation reportedly revealed that Rutheford’s vehicle was located on the south side of the crossing, and the train was moving northbound when the collision occurred.

“At the time of the investigation it had not been determined if (Rutheford) experienced vehicle trouble causing her to become stationary on the crossing,” stated a press release from the sheriff’s department.

The crossing is marked by a stop sign and crossing markers.

Cundiff said Rutheford was ejected from the vehicle at the time of the collision. Emergency officials on the scene said she appeared responsive.

Rutheford was treated at the scene by Somerset-Pulaski County EMS, and she was airlifted from the scene and flown to the University of Kentucky Medical Center by Air Methods.

Mary Rutheford, also known as Joey Rutheford, appears to be the wife of Eubank Volunteer Fire Department Chief Norman Rutheford. A posting on the department’s Facebook page stated simply “Please pray for our chief's wife Joey, she was in an accident and is being airlifted to UK.”

A spokesperson with the UK Medical Center said Rutheford was listed in fair condition as of Monday afternoon.

Cundiff said the driver of the train estimated that he was traveling between 45 and 47 miles per hour when the collision occurred. The train remained stopped on the tracks for some time while officials investigated the incident.

Along with Somerset-Pulaski County EMS and Air Methods, the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department was assisted on the scene by the Eubank Volunteer Fire Department and officials with Norfolk Southern Railroad.

The investigation into the cause of the accident is continuing.

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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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