Distracted driving leads to guilty plea in fatal Shelby Co. accident

SHEBYVILLE, Ky. (WTVQ) – A 23-year-old Washington State man pleaded guilty in connection to a five vehicle crash, leaving one dead, in Shelby County.

The accident happened on May 13, 2015 on I-64 westbound.  23-year-old Miroslav Kuzmanovic, of Lakewood, Washington was driving a tractor trailer, and admitted to looking at a hand-held device while behind the wheel.  Investigators say Kuzmanovic failed to notice that traffic had slowed for a motorist on the shoulder of the roadway.  Kuzmanovic hit the car in front of him, killing the driver, and creating a chain-reaction of collisions with three other vehicles.

Kuzmanovic’s manslaughter plea can carry a sentence of up to ten years in prison.  He also pleaded to one count of wanton endangerment, punishable by a sentence of up to five years.  Additionally, he pleaded guilty to a federal charge of prohibited use of a handheld device.

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 15 in Shelby Co. Circuit Court.