A Lexington man has been charged with manslaughter and driving under the influence in a crash that killed two teenage siblings.
Zachary Smith, 30, was driving a Ford Explorer on Saturday night on Athens Boonesboro Road when he crossed the center line and collided head-on with a Mazda Protégé, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported, citing police.
The driver and passenger in the Protégé, 16-year-old Hailey Smith and her 19-year-old brother, Andrew Smith, were killed in the crash, the Fayette County Coroner’s Office said.
Zachary Smith, who is not related to the teens, was initially charged with driving under the influence, operating on a revoked license and driving with no registration plates, according to court records. Two counts of second-degree manslaughter were added later, records said.
According to Smith’s arrest citation, he blew a 0.299 on the breathalyzer, nearly four times the legal limit
The teens’ mother, Brandy Workman, told the newspaper her children were on their way to her house to celebrate her son’s birthday.
Andrew Smith was a recent high school graduate who dreamed of running a reptile rescue, she said. Hailey Smith attended Fayette County Public Schools’ Family Care Center and left behind a 1-year-old daughter named Zoey.
“My world is gone,” Workman said. “I just have to be strong for Zoey and teach her how awesome her mom was.”
(Headline photo: Hailey and Andrew Smith,courtesy of LEX18.com)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
