In an extraordinary rescue effort, the body of a 17-year-old woman from Fayette County has been recovered this afternoon following an accident that occurred last night on old US 25 by the Kentucky River. The car, carrying three passengers, left the roadway and plunged into the river Friday evening. Two men escaped to safety without life threatening injuries, the young woman perished as a result of the accident.
Members of Lexington Metro Fire Department and divers worked through early morning snow and cold weather to retrieve the vehicle and the woman. Madison County Fire staff and Richmond Fire Departments were part of the search and recovery. State Police and the Kentucky Division of Fish and Wildlife are both heading up investigations. Witnesses say, the car missed the protective guard rail by only a few feet, that may have saved the car from going into the river. The recovery required one of the largest wreckers in the state. Once the car was retrieved, the jaws of life were required to extricate the young woman.
Madison County Coroner Jimmy Cornelison consoled family of the young woman on site and has scheduled the body for a further examination in Frankfort. A post by the Carlisle Christian Church identified the young woman as 17-year-old Maci Wyan of Lexington.
