Man Charged with Murder after Fatal Crash

A Paducah man is facing murder and other charges after an early morning fatal crash.

About 2:30 am Saturday, a McCracken County Sheriff's Deputy reportedly clocked a vehicle driving 92 mph in a 35 mph zone on Old Mayfield Road near Schneidman Road. The deputy began following in an attempt to catch the vehicle, and found it crashed between Sills Lane and Elmdale Road. The vehicle was upside down and in flames. 

The deputy found an unconscious man trapped inside, and after several attempts, was able to remove him from the car and resuscitate him. He was identified as 34-year-old Ancinio Demarr Friar of Paducah, and was taken to Mercy Lourdes Hospital for treatment of his injuries. 

Deputies also found a woman that had apparently been thrown from the vehicle during the crash. After attempts to resuscitate her by deputies and EMS workers, 29-year-old Ronneka S. Hampton of Paducah was declared dead at a local hospital.

Investigation determined the vehicle had left the road, hit a tree and rolled over before catching fire. 

After his release from the hospital, Friar was arrested on a murder charge, along with DUI, fleeing or evading police, speeding (more than 25 mph over the limit), and on an outstanding McCracken County warrant for failure to pay child support.

Old Mayfield Road was closed for several hours for investigation and cleanup of the scene. A fire hydrant was also damaged and had to be repaired.