Alabama Man Injured in Graves County Wreck
By Joe Jackson
MAYFIELD, KY - A two-vehicle collision Monday afternoon in Graves County left an Alabama man injured. According to the Graves County Sheriff’s Office, the wreck happened at approximately 3:10 pm on U.S. 45 North near the Poultry Drive intersection.
The investigation showed that 52-year-old Gary W. Stowell, of Union City, TN, was southbound on U.S. 45 in a semi owned by Griffin Industries of Union City. Stowell had just left the Pilgrim’s Pride Processing Plant with a load of chicken by-products.
Stowell had made a left turn from Poultry Drive onto U.S. 45 and had almost reached his cruising speed when he was struck in the back of the trailer by a car driven by 60-year-old Joe E. Overstreet, of Fairhope, AL. Stowell was able to maintain control of his semi and pulled it onto the shoulder of the highway.
Overstreet crossed both lanes of U.S. 45 southbound, went across the median, crossed both lanes of U.S. 45 northbound, went down an embankment and came to rest when his vehicle struck the retaining fence on the east side of U.S. 45 North.
Overstreet was transported to the emergency room at Jackson Purchase Medical Center by Mayfield-Graves County EMS. Stowell was not injured. Overstreet told deputies he fell asleep behind the wheel and did not know what he hit until he was told by police.