Joshua Phelps
Joshua Brian Phelps was an Owenton resident and the father of a young son, whose mother has joined a lawsuit over his death. In December 2016 he was being driven from a work site back to the Franklin County Regional Jail when the vehicle left Glenns Creek Road and struck a tree. He was airlifted to a hospital, where he died of his injuries. Sheriff Pat Melton said driver inattention and speed were factors, while Phelps's estate and family have sued the transport service, the county, the jailer and the driver for negligence, a claim the defendants deny.
Cause of death, as reported: Died in an accident (neglect alleged). Sheriff Pat Melton says the van crash was an accident caused by driver inattention and speed, while the family's wrongful-death lawsuit alleges the transport service, county, jailer and driver were negligent, which the defendants deny.
Reported by: Franklin County Sheriff Pat Melton (the agency that held him); his estate and family, in a wrongful-death lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His estate, family members, and the other passenger sued the transport service, Franklin County, the jailer, and the driver for negligence, and the defendants deny the claims; no payment amount is reported.