* Final update to early morning crash fatality on Highway 27 in Lake Hamilton. *
At approximately 4:25 am, on Monday, February 1, 2016, a black, 2001 GMC Yukon, operated by 69-year-old Perry Cope Worth, Booker Street Lake Hamilton, was traveling southbound on US 27, approximately 1/4 mile south of Crump Road in Lake Hamilton. US 27 is a six lane divided highway in the city limits of Lake Hamilton in this location.
As Worth was traveling southbound, she drifted off the right (west) shoulder of the roadway striking numerous lane markers. Perry appears to have overcorrected, turning sharply to the left and entering back onto the roadway.
The Yukon began to rotate counter-clockwise in a southeast direction upon entering back onto the roadway. As the Yukon rotated it began to flip several times as it travelled across the three southbound lanes of travel.
The Yukon rolled and Perry was ejected from the vehicle and came to rest in the grass median at the edge of the northbound lanes. The Yukon came to final rest in the median approximately 400 feet from where it originally left the roadway.
Polk County Fire and Medic units responded to the crash and declared Perry deceased. The crash occurred in the city limits of Lake Hamilton, who requested that the Sheriff’s Office assume the crash investigation.
Speed may have been a factor in this crash. Impairment is not suspected and distracted driving will be further investigated. The driver’s seat belt was found buckled and tight against the seat indicating Perry had been sitting on the belt and not utilizing it.
There is no indication of other vehicles being involved. The investigation is ongoing.
