Published: April 28, 2009 11:50 am         

Jenkins pleads guilty in Pulaski County

Monticello — A local man who was involved in a deadly crash last May in Pulaski

County has pled guilty to second degree manslaughter, an amended charge of

second degree assault, and wanton endangerment.

Samuel L. Jenkins appeared in Pulaski Circuit Court on Wednesday, April

22 to enter the plea. A sentence of five years was recommended on the

manslaughter charge, five years on the amended assault charge and five years

on the wanton endangerment charge, all to run concurrent.

Two additional assault charges, two wanton endangerment charges, and a

D.U.I. charge against Jenkins were dismissed

The charges stemmed from a May 12, 2008 collision that occurred

approximately 12 miles north of Somerset on U.S. 27. The accident report

indicated that Jenkins ran his vehicle into the back of a 2003 Pontiac

driven by Tanya K. Clark of Indiana.

The impact pushed Clark's vehicle into the rear of a 2002 GMC operated

by Murrell Denney of Waynesburg, who was waiting to turn left off U.S. 27

and then into the northbound lane, where it was hit again by a 1999

Chevrolet driven by Paula F. Weddle of Liberty. Weddle had been traveling

northbound on U.S. 27.

Clark's vehicle then crossed back into the southbound lane and struck

the Denney vehicle a second time. Clark was extricated from her vehicle and

flown to the University of Kentucky Medical Center for treatment. She later

died from what the Fayette County Coroner's Office called a "traumatic brain

injury" and other trauma.

Jenkins was indicted on the charges in November 2008 by a Pulaski County

Grand Jury.

Formal sentencing for Jenkins has been set for May 15 in Pulaski Circuit

Court.

     

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