The road was quiet Friday evening in Marion County. Then, in a matter of seconds, everything changed. Mason May, just 21 years old and from Lebanon, lost his life in a violent crash that has left his family and neighbors in deep shock.
State police say the collision happened along KY 49, also known as Bradfordville Road. Investigators believe a 2014 Ford F-150, driven by 35-year-old Jacob Buckingham, tried to pass another vehicle in a no-passing zone. It was a move that turned deadly.
As Buckingham’s truck crossed into the opposite lane, it struck a 2011 Honda Civic head-on. Behind the wheel of that car was May. The impact was severe. Emergency crews rushed to the scene, but there was little they could do.
The Marion County Coroner pronounced May dead at the scene. Officials said his injuries were too serious to survive. In contrast, Buckingham walked away with minor injuries and was taken to Spring View Hospital for treatment.
The aftermath of the crash brought several local agencies together. Deputies, firefighters, EMS teams, and state troopers all worked the scene, piecing together what happened on that stretch of road. The investigation is still ongoing.
For those who knew Mason May, the loss feels unreal. What started as an ordinary drive ended in heartbreak. A young life, full of promise, was cut short in an instant.
Now, a family mourns, and a small Kentucky community struggles to process the weight of it all. Along KY 49, the silence has returned—but it carries a different meaning now.
