WICKLIFFE, Ky. (January 22, 2024) – Kentucky State Police (KSP), Post 1 is investigating a Saturday evening collision that claimed the life of a Ballard County woman. At approximately 8:30pm CT on January 20, KSP Post 1 received a call from the Ballard County Sheriff’s Office requesting troopers investigate a two vehicle collision that occurred on US-51 at the intersection of Union Construction Gate Road. Troopers trained in collision reconstruction responded to the scene.
Initial investigation revealed that a 2021 Freightliner truck-tractor with a semi-trailer, operated by Brian K. Bender, 57 years old of Tyner, NC, was backing across both lanes of US-51 into the entrance of the Phoneix Paper Mill at Union Construction Gate Road. A 2016 Nissan Altima, operated by Theresa Polivick, 70 years old of Wickliffe, KY was traveling northbound on US-51. A passenger in the Nissan Altima was identified as Larry Polivick, 70 years old of Wickliffe, KY. The operator of the Nissan Altima failed to observe the commercial motor vehicle, colliding with the semi-trailer and coming to final rest under the semi-trailer.
The operator of the Nissan Altima, Theresa Polivick, was transported by AirEvac to an out-of-state hospital where she was later pronounced deceased. The passenger of the Nissan Altima, Larry Polivick, was also transported to an out-of-state hospital where he remains in stable but critical condition. The operator of the Freightliner did not report any injuries.
The investigation remains ongoing by Trooper Casey Hamby. KSP was assisted on scene by the Ballard County Sheriff’s Office, Ballard County Emergency Management, Ballard County EMS, Ballard County Rescue, Wickliffe Fire Department, Carlise County EMS, and AirEvac Lifeteam.
