News

Actions

Franklin Co. Man Charged With Manslaughter In 2017 Crash

Posted at 8:07 PM, Jun 12, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-12 20:07:24-04

(LEX 18) On Tuesday, June 12, 2018, a Franklin County man was arrested at his home and charged with manslaughter in a 2017 crash.

The Casey County Grand Jury returned an indictment on 37-year-old John L. Whitaker, of Frankfort, Monday, June 11, 2018. The indictment including several criminal offenses resulting from the crash that killed a young Marine veteran named Phillip Dillon in July 2017. Whitaker was charged with one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, three counts of Assault in the First Degree, three counts of Assault in the Fourth Degree, and one count of Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUI), Second Offense, Aggravating Circumstance. 

The indictment alleges that on July 8, 2017, Whitaker was driving while under the influence of drugs when he caused a four-vehicle crash on US Highway 127. Dillon died and six others were injured.

Whitaker was lodged in the Franklin County Detention Center.