Jerry Ricketts Obituary, Death – A tragic crash in Meade County has left one person dead and two others seriously injured, according to information released by the Kentucky State Police (KSP). The deadly accident took place late in the morning on Wednesday, August 21, prompting an urgent response from emergency officials and investigators.
Authorities reported that the collision happened near the 14000 block of U.S. Highway 60. At approximately 10:32 a.m., Meade County Dispatch requested the assistance of KSP troopers to handle the situation. The crash involved a semi-tractor trailer and a Ford F-150 pickup truck, both of which sustained significant damage in the impact.
Preliminary findings from the KSP investigation indicate that the semi-tractor trailer, driven by 77-year-old Marshall Morgan of Guston, was traveling eastbound on U.S. 60. For reasons that have not yet been determined, Morgan’s vehicle veered across the center line of the highway. This maneuver put the truck directly in the path of the Ford F-150 traveling in the opposite lane. The two vehicles collided head-on with devastating consequences.
Inside the Ford F-150 were Glenda Ricketts, 74, of Shepherdsville, and her husband, Jerry Ricketts, 80, who was riding as a passenger. The crash’s force was so severe that Jerry Ricketts did not survive. Emergency personnel pronounced him dead at the scene, leaving behind a grieving family and community.
Glenda Ricketts, who was behind the wheel of the pickup truck, sustained life-threatening injuries. She was transported by emergency responders to UofL Hospital in Louisville, where she is receiving urgent medical care. The driver of the semi-truck, Marshall Morgan, was also rushed to UofL Hospital with critical injuries. Both individuals remain hospitalized, and their conditions have not been updated publicly since the crash.
The incident caused significant disruption along the stretch of U.S. 60 where it occurred. Emergency vehicles, law enforcement officers, and investigators worked on the scene for hours, blocking traffic while documenting evidence and clearing the roadway. Authorities noted that wreckage from the collision spread across lanes, underscoring the violent nature of the crash.
While the immediate cause of Morgan’s truck crossing the center line remains unclear, investigators with the Kentucky State Police are working to determine whether factors such as a medical emergency, driver distraction, mechanical failure, or other circumstances may have contributed. Toxicology tests and further vehicle examinations are expected as part of the ongoing investigation.
The crash highlights once again the dangers of rural highways, where head-on collisions often prove fatal due to high speeds and limited room for evasive maneuvers. Local residents have expressed concern about safety along U.S. 60, a well-traveled route in the region.
As of now, no charges or citations have been issued. The Kentucky State Police emphasized that the investigation remains active, and more details will be released once they are confirmed. In the meantime, the Shepherdsville community is mourning the loss of Jerry Ricketts while hoping for the recovery of Glenda Ricketts and Marshall Morgan.
