Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 116, No. 51	December 17, 2008

Star athlete’s tragic death brings community together

By LARRY SEE JR.
Messenger Staff

Meade County High School senior Chelsea Stinnett, a star athlete and all-around student, died Dec. 11 of injuries in an auto accident.

The first unit to respond to the scene from Meade County EMS contained her mother, Dawn Wise. The other paramedic was Matt Hall.

Stinnett served as captain of the volleyball and basketball teams. She also was a coach in the Lady Wave youth basketball program.

At Meade County High she was also active in the Pep Club, FCCLA, FCA and served as an assistant teacher for special education. She was a regional karate champion in the 11-12-year-old division, all-city track team member while at Our Mother of Sorrows Church in Louisville, a 2008 Merit scholarship winner of Bellarmine University and formerly employed at Bee Hive Assisted Living.

Kentucky State Police troopers reported the accident occurred at 7:15 a.m. on KY 1239, just north of Midway.

The 1999 Mercury, driven by Stinnett, was traveling south and lost control while rounding a curve.

Stinnett’s vehicle then rotated counterclockwise, crossed into the northbound lane and struck a 1987 Dodge pickup driven by Randall Henderson, 23, Battletown.

Stinnett’s vehicle came to rest in the northbound lane of KY 1239 and the Henderson vehicle came to rest partially in the northbound lane and partially in a gravel driveway.

Stinnett was pronounced dead at the scene by the Meade County coroner.

According to KSP, Henderson suffered life-threatening injuries and was transferred to University of Louisville Hospital by Meade County EMS.

Devona Haycraft, a spokesperson for the Henderson family, said he received about 150 stitches across his head and face.

“His face went right through the windshield. he has scars on his face and his heart,” she said. In addition, Henderson broke his hip and had a pin inserted there..

“He is 23 years old, engaged and just got his own home” she said. “He sat in the hospital three days and cried.” His sympathy goes out to the Stinnett family.

Hospital officials will provide Henderson therapy for the accident, Haycraft said. “He has to live with this for the rest of his life,” she said.

Henderson’s finance is Brittany Mythiers and he also has a son, Caleb.

Also assisting at the scene were the Meade County Sheriff’s Department, Ekron Fire Department and Payneville Fire Department.

“This has just been heartbreaking for us,” county EMS director Pam Weber said.

“We had probably over 200 kids here (Dec. 11) for a candlelight vigil for her and St. John’s opened their doors for them. They wanted to go out to the site, but the parents suggested they do it here.”

In addition, over 300 people visited the department’s main offices off Fairway Drive in Brandenburg Dec. 11, Weber said.

Workers and ambulances came from Hardin, Breckinridge, Yellow Ambulance and Fort Knox to offer their condolences and services.

“We had several trucks here and they are all planning on coming back to help when the funeral occurs,” Weber said. To ensure service is not hindered, firefighters will ride with the ambulances to direct them to their calls.

Most of the ambulances arrived at the Brandenburg station within a half hour, Weber said. As the day progressed, EMS officials were able to pick up the pieces and proceed ahead.

Weber said it was difficult for the “EMS family” because they work 24-hour shifts.

“That’s always a big fear,” she said, when getting a call like this, “that it could be one of your family members.”

She also added it is difficult in Meade County, due to the close-knit nature of the community and the fact everyone knows everyone else.

County Emergency Management Director Ron Dodson assisted with a few behind-the-scenes chores at EMS Dec. 11, but also called Stinnett’s death a tragic loss for the community.

He reiterated the fact that since the EMS personnel work 24-hour shifts they were like “aunts and uncles” to some of the kids, adding it was like a very big family.

Hager Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Visitation and a prayer service were Dec. 14 in the MCHS gymnasium, followed by burial in Evergreen Cemetery Dec. 15.

A memorial fund has been established at Meade County Bank.

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