UPDATE: New Details Released in US23 Fatal Accident

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Posted: 10:04 PM Oct 4, 2008
Last Updated: 9:53 PM Oct 5, 2008
Reporter: WSAZ News Staff
Email Address: news@wsaz.com

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UPDATE on Sunday
FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WSAZ) -- State police in Kentucky released new information Sunday about a fatal accident in Floyd County.

State Police say Jonathan Pente was driving north on US23 under the influence of drugs and alcohol when he crashed head on into a mini van. It happened in the Harold area of Floyd County around 11pm Friday.

Loretta Elswick was killed in the crash. Three others went to the hospital.

Original story
FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WSAZ) -- A late night drive ended with one woman dead and three others in the hospital.

State Police in Kentucky say Jonathan Pente was driving north on US23 in Floyd County when he crashed head on into a mini van. This happened in the Harold area of Floyd County around 11pm Friday.

Loretta Elswick died in the crash. Three others went to the hospital. After the accident, police say Pente ran away from the scene.

Police eventually caught up and arrested Pente. He's charged with murder and leaving the scene of an accident.

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Posted by: Family Friend on Oct 6, 2008 at 11:13 PM
I know this family and this is not going to be easy. They also had a daughter pass away not long ago. This family did NOT deserve what happened to them. Mrs. Elswick was a nice person and I have know her and her family my entire life. This man destroyed a family that was already struggling to survive. I know my opinion won't mean anything but he should be put to death for this. No one should be that careless with their life and endanger others. If he wanted to kill himself with what he was doing, that's his decision but when he decided to drive it should be his peers decision to make him pay. I hope the family can recover and move on. That is what Mrs. Elswick would have wanted them to do. SO sorry for your loss.

Posted by: Me on Oct 6, 2008 at 09:40 PM
Prayers go out to the family, this is truly horrible.

Posted by: gary on Oct 6, 2008 at 07:28 PM
finally,,,something me and pablo agrees on

Posted by: Pablo on Oct 6, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Drugs and alcohol? If this country had true justice this man would be given the death penalty and be executed within a month. Being high on illegal drugs and drunk on alcohol and killing someone on the road is no accident. He chose to drive while he was drunk and high. Anyone old enough to do illegal drugs and drink alcohol knows that it can and usually will make you do things that you wouldn't do when sober. So there is no excuse for not knowing. No excuse because you didn't mean to kill. No excuses. Demand our governors and legislatures toughen illegal drug use and driving drunk (even if no one is injuered or killed) laws. If not, the next death from a drunk or illegal drug user on the highway may be you or one of your loved ones.

Posted by: Annie on Oct 6, 2008 at 09:48 AM
Drugs are destroying our citizens. I'm not sure if the consequences for drug users, dealers, and abusers is harsh enough for their actions. People are dying! If not directly from the use of the drugs, from the actions of someone impaired by drugs. I know prisons and jails are overcrowded - according to the news- but something has to be done. Drugs are not worth loosing a life over!!

Posted by: Pablo on Oct 5, 2008 at 09:26 PM
Prison term is needed here. This was no accident. He crossed the center line and crashed into another vehicle and then fled. I wonder if he was drunk, high on illegal drugs, or using a mobile telephone? Either way, we need to get these types of drivers off the highways. Give him several years in prison and he should never be allowed to own a driver's license again.

Posted by: hmmm on Oct 5, 2008 at 08:55 PM
well it looks like he didnt care to much about his friends , he ran away from the scene ? doesnt sound like a friend there ..

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