Knox County Crash: A quiet Wednesday evening in Knox County turned tragic when Alfred Smith, 73, of Corbin, lost his life in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 25E near Higgins Road.
It happened around 7:00 p.m. after Knox County 911 received reports of a serious collision just south of Higgins Road. Emergency teams rushed to the scene and found two heavily damaged vehicles off the roadway.
Investigators say Alfred Smith was driving a 2001 Mercury Sable. He was attempting a left turn from North Highway 25E onto KY 1232 when his car moved into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
That oncoming vehicle was a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 29-year-old Cody Cox of Pineville. The impact was strong and left both vehicles badly damaged along the shoulder of the road.
First responders quickly took Smith to Baptist Health Corbin. Medical staff worked to save his life, but his injuries were too severe. He was later pronounced dead by the Whitley County Coroner’s Office.
The news has left his community in shock. People who knew him described the loss as sudden and painful, as they try to process the absence of someone familiar in their daily lives.
Officials have stated that drugs and alcohol are not believed to be involved. The investigation into the exact cause of the crash is still ongoing, led by Deputy Elijah Broughton and Sgt. Jesse Smith.
Several emergency agencies responded to the scene, including local fire departments, EMS crews, police units, and emergency management teams who all worked together during the critical moments of the crash.
