The victim in Saturday’s fatal crash on U.S. 119 near Jenkins has been identified.

In a statement released Sunday, Kentucky State Police identified the victim in Saturday’s fatal crash as 61-year-old Barbara Newsome, of Pikeville. According to the statement, Newsome was an occupant of a 2008 Toyota Yaris driven 66-year-old Judy Kiser, of Pikeville. 90-year-old Kathleen Tackett, of Belcher, was also a passenger in the vehicle.

According to the statement, the preliminary investigation into the wreck indicated that 37-year-old Franklin Travis Helbert, of Appalachia, Virginia, was traveling northbound in a Chevrolet pickup towing a loaded horse trailer. Helbert, the statement said, lost control of his truck and crossed into the path of Kiser’s vehicle, which was traveling southbound. Rainfall and road conditions may have been factors in the crash, the statement said.

Kiser, Newsome and Tackett were all transported to Whitesburg ARH Hospital. Helbert, the statement said, refused medical attention. According to the statement, Newsome was pronounced dead at the hospital by Letcher County Coroner Renee Campbell.

The KSP statement said toxicology reports for both Helbert and Kiser are pending, but Helbert has been charged with second-offense DUI, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and felony counts of second-degree manslaughter and two counts of first-degree assault. He remains lodged in the Letcher County Jail. KSP Det. Scott Caudill is conducting the ongoing investigation and the reconstruction of the wreck.

The Jenkins, Neon and Mayking volunteer fire departments, as well as Jenkins Police Department and Letcher County Constable’s office also responded to the crash.

Original report (posted 5/5/18):

A Virginia man is facing felony charges, including a manslaughter charge, in relation to a fatal vehicle crash in Letcher County.

37-year-old Travis Helbert, of Appalachia, Virginia, was charged in the death of a female killed in a crash on U.S. 119 at Payne Gap near Jenkins. The wreck happened shortly after 4 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of U.S. 119 and Bentley Loop.

Kentucky State Police confirmed to EKB News that one of the three people injured in the crash died following the wreck. The investigation is still ongoing, but police at the scene said a pickup truck, driven by Helbert and hauling a loaded horse trailer, crossed into the path of a 4-door sedan carrying three occupants and the vehicles collided.

The female who died following the wreck was a passenger in the sedan. Her name had not yet been released as of the posting of this report. Helbert was not injured. The extent of the injuries suffered by the other two occupants of the sedan was not available as of this report, although one was transported by ambulance from Whitesburg ARH Hospital to Pikeville Medical Center.

Kentucky State Police have charged Helbert with second-degree manslaughter, two counts of first-degree assault, DUI, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A horse being hauled in the trailer, which detatched from Helbert’s truck and came to rest some 50 feet from the crash, was remanded to the care of a neighbor near the scene of the crash. Helbert indicated at the scene that he was returning to Virginia from the Knott County Trail Ride, which was held this weekend.

More charges against Helbert could be forthcoming.