BOONE COUNTY SHERIFF
MICHAEL A. HELMIG
P.O. BOX 198
BURLINGTON, KY. 41005-0198
Phone: 859-334-2175
FAX: 859-334-2234
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Tom Scheben, Spokesman
Public Information Services
859.334.3543
tscheben@boonecountyky.org
March 4, 2008
On Tuesday, March 04, 2008 at approximately 1:35 p.m. a collision between a tractor trailer and a motorcycle on KY 338 (Richwood Road) at I–75 in Richwood, Kentucky claimed the life of the motorcyclist.
Peter Mbugua, 60 of Wylie, Texas was driving a tractor trailer owned by Safari Trucking of Texas exiting southbound I–75 at Richwood when he realized he couldn’t stop for the red light at the end of the ramp. Mbugua steered the rig onto the left shoulder to avoid ramming the stopped traffic on the ramp and attempted to go straight through the intersection and onto the entrance ramp directly across the road.
Joseph Lonneman, 22 of Walton, Kentucky was eastbound on Richwood Road riding his 2002 Honda motorcycle approaching the intersection. Lonneman laid the motorcycle down in an attempt to miss the truck but was hit in the intersection. Lonneman was taken to University Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries at approximately 4:00 p.m. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
The initial indications are that the accident was caused by faulty equipment on the truck and trailer. A complete investigation is being conducted by the Boone County Sheriff’s Department Accident Reconstruction Unit.
Updated information: On Tuesday, March 18, 2008 the driver of the tractor trailer, Peter Mbugua, was arrested in Wylie, Texas on a warrant obtained by investigators through Boone County Circuit Court for Manslaughter 2nd degree. The accident reconstruction team determined Mbugua was aware of the faulty brakes prior to the accident. Manslaughter 2nd degree is a Class C felony punishable by 5-10 years in the state penitentiary.
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