Three individuals were hospitalized following a two-vehicle collision on Highway 914 in Somerset, Kentucky on Saturday, May 17, 2025. According to the Somerset Fire Department (SFD), crews were dispatched to the area of Bourbon Road and KY-914 to respond to the crash. Somerset police officers and volunteers from the Parkers Mill Fire Department assisted emergency personnel at the scene, working to provide medical care to the injured and clear debris from the roadway. All three victims were transported to local hospitals for treatment, though their current conditions remain unknown. The coordinated response involved multiple emergency agencies working together to manage the incident and restore normal traffic flow on this important Somerset thoroughfare.

Location and Infrastructure

Kentucky Route 914 serves as a major highway that encircles the city of Somerset, beginning at an interchange with the Cumberland Parkway northwest of downtown Somerset in Pulaski County and operating as a four-lane divided highway. The crash occurred near the intersection with Bourbon Road, an area that passes through a mix of farmland and woodland with some development. This section of KY-914 carries significant local and regional traffic as it connects various parts of Somerset and surrounding areas. Most of the highway is within the city limits of Somerset due to annexations made by city government, making it a critical transportation corridor for residents and visitors. The roadway in this area features standard traffic control devices and is regularly maintained by state and local authorities to ensure safe travel conditions for the approximately 65,000 year-round residents the area serves.

Highway 914 in Pulaski County, Kentucky has seen an uptick in vehicle crashes over the past year according to data from the Kentucky State Police. In 2022, there were 27 reported collisions on this stretch of highway, a 35% increase compared to the previous year. Of those 27 crashes, 6 resulted in injuries requiring medical treatment. Speeding was cited as a contributing factor in over half of the incidents. Local officials are currently evaluating options to improve safety on Highway 914, including increased police patrols to enforce speed limits and potential road improvements at high-incident locations. Motorists are reminded to always obey posted speed limit signs and exercise caution when traveling on this roadway.

Highway crashes are particularly dangerous due to the extreme forces involved when vehicles traveling at 55-80+ mph suddenly decelerate or collide. At these speeds, the kinetic energy that must be dissipated in a crash increases exponentially - a vehicle traveling at 70 mph carries four times more energy than one at 35 mph. This massive energy transfer can overwhelm safety systems like airbags and crumple zones, while occupants experience violent deceleration forces that can cause severe internal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and broken bones even when properly restrained. Additionally, the high speeds leave drivers with minimal reaction time to avoid obstacles, reduce the effectiveness of emergency braking, and increase the likelihood of vehicles losing control, rolling over, or colliding with multiple objects, all of which compound the severity of injuries and significantly increase fatality rates compared to lower-speed accidents.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Kentucky law, anyone involved in an automobile accident involving property damage exceeding $500 must file a Civilian Collision Report with the Kentucky State Police (KSP) within 10 days of the accident, though this requirement is waived if law enforcement responded to the scene and prepared an official report. Kentucky operates under a no-fault insurance system, meaning drivers who carry personal injury protection (PIP) coverage turn first to their own insurance policy to pay for medical care and other accident-related expenses, with a minimum coverage amount of $10,000. Injured parties have one year to bring a personal injury lawsuit against an at-fault driver in most cases, while property damage claims must be filed within two years. Kentucky follows a "pure comparative fault" rule, meaning compensation is reduced by the same percentage as the claimant's level of fault in causing the crash. Accident victims may be eligible to recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and other losses resulting from the collision.

Related Resources

Emergency Services:

• Pulaski County 911 Center: 180 Oak Leaf Ln, Somerset, KY 42503 | Non-Emergency: 606-678-5008
• Somerset-Pulaski EMS: Provides Advanced Life Support services to approximately 65,000 residents
• Somerset Fire Department
• Somerset Police Department

Traffic Safety and Legal Resources:

• Kentucky State Police (for accident reporting)
• Kentucky Office of Highway Safety: Road conditions and traffic alerts at goky.ky.gov
• Kentucky Department of Insurance (for no-fault system information)
• Local personal injury attorneys specializing in Kentucky car accident law

Support Services:

• Local hospitals for emergency medical care
• Insurance claim assistance services
• Victim advocacy organizations
• Mental health counseling services for accident trauma