Name released in Lexington deadly crash

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – The Fayette County Coroner was called to the scene of a serious accident early Friday morning in Lexington.

Police say the driver, 25-year-old Ethan Earlywine was traveling down Lakeshore Drive near Water’s Edge Place around 5 a.m. when he went off the road, hit a tree and went down an embankment.

Police say Earlywine was thrown from the car and died on scene.

His passenger was not thrown from the car, according to police, but was taken to the University of Kentucky hospital with serious injuries. Police say he was talking and alert when first responders arrived on scene.

Friends of Ethan Earlywine say he was greatly loved and will be missed.

Todd Puckett, a friend of Earlywine, found out about the crash while in Florida, helping restore power to hurricane victims.

Puckett says Earlywine loved to play softball and make people laugh. Puckett says Earlywine had an infectious personality that made him the kind of person people always wanted to be around.

“He was definitely one-of-a-kind and he always had that smile on his face,” said Puckett. “It was just like he was never in a bad mood… that you couldn’t even be in a bad mood around him because he was just always happy it felt like.”

Police say speed, fog and alcohol are all factors in the crash.

The Crash Reconstruction Unit is investigating.