Lancaster, KY : 35-year-old Nicholasville police officer Burke Rhoads killed in three-vehicle crash on US 27 in Garrard County on Wednesday morning, March 11, 2015

A Nicholasville police officer was killed Wednesday morning in a crash on U.S. 27 near the Garrard-Jessamine County line.

The officer was rushed to UK Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Kentucky State Police identified the officer as 35-year-old Burke Rhoads.

Three vehicles -- the cruiser, a black Cadillac SUV and a white 2012 Chevrolet Cruze -- were involved in the crash, which happened at 7:06 a.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Rogers Road and US 27.

As the sun set on a day so full of sadness in Nicholasville, marks of mourning stood out on Main Street - a flag at half-staff at City Hall, two blue and black wreaths across the street at the police department - signs that the community which Officer Rhoads swore to protect and serve now mourns his loss.

"Everybody going into this job knows it's a possibility but no one ever wants to have to do it," said Sgt. Scott Harvey with Nicholasville Police.

Law enforcement vehicles from several agencies across central Kentucky escorted Rhoads' body from UK Hospital where he was pronounced dead, to the Fayette Co. Coroner's office, then to Betts and West Funeral Home in Nicholasville.

Trooper Paul Blanton says that Rhoads was traveling through Garrard County, in route to training in Richmond when the accident happened.

According to Blanton, the Chevrolet Cruze turned off Rogers Road(HWY 1845) onto U.S. 27, colliding with the police cruiser. The cruiser then spun backwards into oncoming traffic when it was hit by the Cadillac SUV.

The driver of the Chevrolet Cruze is a woman who was treated and released at a local hospital.

The driver of the black Cadillac SUV was taken to UK Hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries. His wife and elementary aged daughter were in the SUV also. They were taken to UK Hospital to be checked out with minor injuries.

Officer Rhoads leaves behind a wife and three children. He was an eight year veteran with the Nicholasville Police Department. Sgt. Harvey said Rhoads is the department's first line of duty death since 1941.

The Kentucky State police were working the crash, along with the Nicholasville police department's collision reconstruction team. Garrard County Sheriff's Office and the Camp Dick Fire Department also were on the scene.

The accident snarled traffic for more than seven hours. At least two lanes of U.S. 27 were blocked near the Garrard-Jessamine County line; 27 northbound was also closed for some time. Officers were allowing northbound traffic to drive on the southbound side, but it went slow for several hours.

Trooper Blanton says that weather may have played a factor in this crash. The pavement was wet and there were foggy conditions in the area at the time of the crash.

"It certainly wouldn't be hard to imagine that had something to do with the collision but it's a little too early right now for us to say that," Trooper Blanton said.

Source :
Officer killed in Garrard County crash