PIKEVILLE / PIKE COUNTY, KY — The Pikeville Police Department and the Pike County Coroner’s Office are investigating a fatal single-vehicle crash that took the life of 28-year-old Autumn Mullins of Virgie, Kentucky, on Monday morning.
The collision occurred along U.S. 23 near the Exit 24 underpass, prompting a response from regional reconstruction units as investigators work to determine what caused the vehicle to leave the roadway.
The fatal collision occurred Monday morning near the Exit 24 underpass, where Mullins’ truck struck the Cedar Creek Bridge. Pikeville police responded after receiving a 911 call, and the Pike County Coroner’s Office confirmed her death after emergency crews arrived. Mullins was the only occupant of the vehicle.
Pikeville Police Captain Chad Branham said the truck was traveling near Exit 24 when it left the roadway, struck a metal pole, continued up a small hillside, and eventually collided with the bridge.
“It appears to us that the driver just went off of the roadway, lost control, traveled up the hill and coming in contact with the Cedar Creek Bridge,” Branham explained.
Investigators have not yet determined what caused Mullins to leave the roadway or lose control of the truck. Because the collision resulted in a fatality, the department’s reconstruction unit was called to the scene, along with the newly established Advanced Reconstruction Team. The team includes personnel from Pikeville Police, Prestonsburg Police, and the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, working together in one of their first joint investigations.
A toxicology report remains pending. Police also stated that the incident is not being investigated as a criminal matter, as Mullins was the only person inside the vehicle.
The crash prompted a warning for motorists traveling northbound on U.S. 23 near the Exit 24 bridge to proceed with caution while emergency crews worked at the scene.
Autumn Mullins’ death has left loved ones facing a painful loss. At 28, her life ended in a collision whose cause remains under investigation.
Heartfelt condolences go out to her family, friends, and everyone mourning her passing. May she rest in peace.
