A Barren County man has been charged after swerving off I-65 and hitting a vehicle parked in the emergency lane, killing a female juvenile and injuring multiple others.
The crash occurred on the evening of May 30, 2025, at approximately 7:00 at the 59-mile marker of southbound I-65 in Hart County, according to Kentucky State Police.
The investigation showed that a Ford Focus, being driven by 23-year-old Dru Smith, of Glasgow, was parked on “the side of the roadway,” state police said, when a southbound Mitsubishi Outlander, being driven by 31-year-old Cory Bowles, of Glasgow, “veered off the roadway and collided with Smith’s parked vehicle.”
Bowles was transported to T.J. Samson Community Hospital along with one of his passengers, Mindy Bowles. Mindy Bowles was later airlifted to University of Louisville Hospital.
A male juvenile passenger in the Outlander was transported to T.J. Samson Community Hospital as well, while a female juvenile passenger in the Outlander was airlifted to Norton Children’s Hospital.
Smith was airlifted to University of Louisville Hospital.
On July 5, the female juvenile passenger in Bowles’ vehicle died from injuries sustained in the crash, state police said.
Cory Bowles was arrested on July 9 and charged with two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of felony wanton endangerment and fourth-degree assault. He was lodged in the Hart County Jail.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
