DUI suspect crashes three vehicles on Cornett Hill Drive

A suspected impaired driver struck two vehicles during a passing maneuver on Cornett Hill Drive near Christopher Road, resulting in a three-vehicle crash that sent three people to a local hospital with minor injuries. The crash occurred Jan. 12 and ended when the driver pulled over at a nearby church and returned to the scene, where troopers detected the odor of alcohol and arrested him for driving under the influence.

Kentucky State Police Post 13 in Hazard identified the driver as 26-year-old Jakob Sizemore. Officials say Sizemore attempted to pass another vehicle when an oncoming car forced him to swerve back into his lane, striking both vehicles. After stopping at the church, Sizemore was taken into custody and transported to the Kentucky River Regional Jail.

For Perry County residents, the incident is a reminder of how quickly impaired driving can ripple through a rural community. Even when injuries are minor, crashes require emergency response from first responders, EMS, and law enforcement, drawing resources that are already stretched thin in many parts of eastern Kentucky. Local hospitals and ambulance services in rural counties often operate with limited capacity and longer transport times; every crash increases the strain on those systems and can delay care for other emergencies.

Beyond the immediate crash, this event underscores persistent public health and safety challenges tied to alcohol-impaired driving and access to services. Rural communities face barriers to substance use treatment, fewer public transportation options, and limited late-night alternatives to driving. Those structural gaps raise the risk that people who have been drinking will get behind the wheel instead of finding safer options.

Traffic safety also intersects with socioeconomic equity in Perry County. Lower-income residents may have fewer ride options or irregular work schedules that encourage risky driving behavior. Preventing crashes requires both enforcement and investment: consistent DUI enforcement and sobriety checks can deter impaired driving, while funding for treatment programs, safe ride initiatives, and community education addresses root causes.

Troopers handled the on-scene investigation and Sizemore remains in custody. The injured were treated at a local hospital and reported to have minor injuries.

Our two cents? If you’re planning to drink, line up a sober ride before you leave—ask a friend, call a cab, or nominate a designated driver. Check in on neighbors and family who work late or live in areas with limited transport. And if you care about long-term solutions, talk with local leaders about expanding substance use treatment access, safe-ride funding, and targeted prevention efforts so Perry County roads are safer for everyone.