Local News
Multiple people killed in Carroll County house fire
Carrollton, KY – The Carroll County Coroner’s Office has identified the victims of a devastating house fire that occurred on October 17th in Carrollton, Kentucky.
Jessica Sellers, 42, her daughter Emilee Boswell, 25, her son Coleton Sellers, 18, and her 10-year-old son Deacon Sellers perished in the fire.
Carrollton Police Department responded to a report of a house fire at a residence on 5th Street around 6:00 AM. Officers arrived within minutes but were unable to enter the fully engulfed house due to the intense heat.
A 3-year-old child was rescued from the scene and transported to a local hospital, where she later received further medical attention in Louisville. Her condition is reported to be improving.
After multiple days of efforts, authorities were able to recover the bodies of the four family members who lost their lives in the fire. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to support the surviving family members.
The tragedy has deeply impacted the small community of Carrollton, with a population of less than 4,000. Dave Roberts, a Carrollton Police Department officer, described the incident as a “terrible tragedy” that will take a long time for the community to heal from.
Carroll County Community Hospital hosted a vigil for two of the victims, expressing their sorrow and acknowledging the positive impact the individuals had on their organization and the community.
Donations were collected during the vigil to support the affected family. The City of Carrollton has also provided counseling assistance to first responders who may need support in coping with the tragic event.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ala. — Authorities have identified the woman killed in a fatal crash Monday morning that also left a child injured in Jefferson County.
According to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, the victim has been identified as 32-year-old Erica Nicole Austin, a resident of Birmingham.
The collision occurred early Monday morning and involved a passenger vehicle and a dump truck, said Center Point Fire District Chief Brandon Dahlen.
Emergency crews were dispatched to the scene shortly after the crash was reported.
Upon arrival, first responders found Austin critically injured. Despite efforts to assist, she was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:46 a.m.
A child who was traveling with Austin sustained injuries in the collision and was transported by Center Point Fire and Rescue to Children’s of Alabama for treatment. The child’s condition has not been released.
The driver of the dump truck was not injured, officials confirmed.
The impact of the collision led to a complete closure of the roadway for approximately five hours as authorities worked to investigate the scene and clear the wreckage.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team is leading the investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the deadly crash.
No additional details have been released at this time.