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Drivers in fatal crash enter pleas

Voice File Photo The mangled remains of a 2010 Hyundai Genesis after a 2013 accident that claimed the life of a young McCreary County woman.

Voice File Photo
The mangled remains of a 2010 Hyundai Genesis after a 2013 accident that claimed the life of a young McCreary County woman.

Two men involved in a 2013 accident that claimed the life of a young woman entered guilty pleas in McCreary County Circuit Court this week.

David Hayes and Benjamin Strunk appeared in court Monday to enter their pleas in the case, which had been ongoing for more than two years.

Benjamin Strunk and David Hayes were facing serious charges for their involvement in the August 27 crash that took the life of Caitlyn Moore, 20, on the new section of Kentucky 92 in Pine Knot.

Benjamin A. Strunk, 25, of Revelo was reportedly participating in a race along side David Allen Hayes, 23, of Williamsburg on the new section of KY 92.

Witnesses at the scene reported the two vehicles appeared to be racing and driving recklessly on highway heading westbound at a high rate of speed.

Steve Maggoria, of Pine Knot, was driving his 2007 PT Cruiser eastbound on the highway when he said he saw two westbound vehicles round the curve ahead of him. Maggoria stated one of the vehicles was in his lane, and he attempted to veer to the right in order to miss the approaching car, but he had little reaction time due to the high speed the other car was traveling.

The front passenger side of Maggoria’s vehicle struck the second car, identified as a 2010 Hyundai Genesis, driven by Strunk, causing it to spin as its momentum kept it travelling down the road. The vehicle struck a ditch and became airborne, ejecting both occupants. The car came to rest hundreds of feet from where the collision occurred.

Caitlin Moore, 20, was ejected from Strunk’s vehicle in the collision and pronounced dead at the scene.

Strunk, 25, was indicted on charges of Murder, Assault 4th Degree and Operating a Motor Vehicle Under the influence for his role in the fatal accident.

According to the indictment Strunk “wantonly drove a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs and engaged in conduct which created a grave risk of death to another person and in doing so caused the death of Caitlin Moore.”

Under the plea agreement the murder charge was amended to Manslaughter 2nd Degree, and Strunk will serve a 12-month sentence, with a 10-year probationary period to follow.

He also entered guilty pleas on the other charges; serving 12-months and 30-days concurrently with his first term.

Hayes was initially charged with Complicity to Commit Murder and Wanton Endangerment, but the plea agreement amends the first charge to Facilitation to Commit Murder and dismisses the second charge.

Hayes agreed to plead guilty to the facilitation charge, carrying a six-month jail term and a five-year probation following. Hayes will be credited with time served starting on November 4 toward his sentence.

Final sentencing is expected to take place on February 2, 2016.

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