WQXE News

The Elizabethtown Police Department responded to a serious traffic accident in E-Town Wednesday.

“Shortly before five o’clock Wednesday evening, we responded to a motor vehicle collision in the area of the U.S. 31W bypass and U.S. 62,” said EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “Our investigation revealed that a red Chevy truck driven by an adult female was traveling eastbound on U.S. 62 in an attempt to turn under the ramp to the southbound bypass. The truck crossed into the path of a westbound Chevy passenger car, resulting in a collision.”

Both of the occupants of the passenger car sustained serious injuries and were transported from the scene. The driver of the truck was also transported for medical care.

The EPD says no criminal charges are expected as a result of the crash.

Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development Secretary Jeff Noel says collaboration and strong leadership has helped Kentucky become a leader in the automotive industry, and the commonwealth needs to fight to stay at the top.

“Whichever way the world goes on in automotive, we have to win, and I’m not politically espoused on whether it’s EV, hydrogen, electric, it doesn’t matter to me,” Noel said. “All I know is if there’s going to be a different composite of what it takes to propel automotive, we have got to make sure that we are winning in that space.”

Noel was the featured speaker during the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce’s October luncheon Wednesday, the theme for which was Manufacturing Month. Noel said about 12.6 percent of Kentucky jobs are tied to manufacturing, so Kentucky must be ready to handle challenges.

“The private sector will find solutions,” Noel said. “Those solutions can be closings. Those solutions can be changing the whole floor mixture. We have to make sure as a state we’re leading in the whole manufacturing renaissance, because we have way too much to lose if we don’t.”

Noel had high praise for the leadership, education opportunities, and collaboration in Hardin County that has made the area not only a hub for growth but an example for the rest of the state to follow.

“You all are a regional hub that when we went to Europe, went to Asia, people want to know about Elizabethtown and Hardin County, Kentucky,” Noel said. “Not only are you on the map, people are talking about ‘why there?,’ ‘what’s going on there?,’ and it allows us to actually talk about other parts of the state, and we can talk about the amazing things that are happening in Hardin County.”

Noel said more information on the state’s economic plans can be found on the Cabinet for Economic Development’s website.

As the country sees the impact of natural disasters, state officials in Kentucky are reminding residents to stay alert and be prepared for severe weather. The state has a new program available to help the deaf and hard of hearing stay alert to storms.

Through the “Moore Safe Nights” program, 700 adapted National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radios are available for free through a partnership between the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management.

“Any Kentucky resident who is deaf or hard of hearing is eligible to receive one of these free weather radios, which are available on a first come first serve basis,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear during a September Team Kentucky Update. “Equipped with pillow shaker and strobe light attachments, these weather radios are designed to alert people who are deaf and hard of hearing of severe weather in their area, so they can take shelter to protect themselves and their families.”

The program is named in memory of Virginia Moore, the late executive director of the KCDHH. Visit the commission’s website or call 1-800-372-2907 to register for an adapted radio. The state says funding will be sought to make additional radios available after the initial 700 are claimed.