NewsCovering Kentucky

Actions

Church Community Mourns Man Killed In Lexington Crash

Posted at 5:00 PM, Apr 10, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-11 05:43:58-04

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18)– One person is dead and two others are injured following a serious crash Tuesday.

It happened around 8 a.m. on the inner loop of Man o’ War Boulevard at Jocasta Drive.

The road was shut down at Alumni Drive while crews cleaned up the crash.

Police say an SUV and a mini-van were involved.

One of the drivers was taken to UK Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The coroner confirmed Wednesday morning that 81-year-old Arlester Washington, a local pastor, passed away shortly after the crash.

The other driver and a toddler were also taken to the hospital for treatment. No additional information has been released on their conditions.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash.

Members of a Lexington church community are mourning the loss of Washington. His son, Artae, says the news of his father’s death hit hard.

“With him being 81-years-old, we knew that, he had more years behind him than in front of him. But we never in our horrible dreams could imagine something of this magnitude,” said Artae.

He spent the last three decades of his life at Now Faith Worship Center.

“He stood for the things of God. And he acted on the things of God. And that is what he instilled in me, and that’s what’s gonna carry on with me, you know, I believe until the day I die,” said church member William Russell.

Church member Serina Russell said she will remember Washington as a father figure with a contagious work ethic.

“We were blessed to have known him, and blessed to have him as part of this community, and just thanking God for him,” she said.

“His body is gone. But his spirit, what he left with us, the teaching that he left with us, that will never die,” said church member Jermol Simmons.