Dry Ridge teen killed in U.S. 25 crash

An 18-year-old wife and mother-to-be was killed in a single vehicle crash on U.S. 25 in Williamstown on July 1.

Dry Ridge firefighters Rodney Smith and Danny Ravenscraft responded to the scene of a fatal wreck on July 1. Photo submitted by Grant Co. Sheriff’s Office

Chelsea Renee Wright Volker, of Dry Ridge, was killed when the car she was riding in ran off the roadway, overturned and struck a tree at 2:57 p.m. about a mile south of Bruce’s Grocery.

The vehicle, a 1995 Honda Civic, was driven by her husband, Joseph A. Volker, 21.

According to Sheriff Chuck Dills, witnesses said Volker appeared to lose control in a slight curve.

“He ran off the right side of the roadway, over corrected crossing over the left lane before he went over an embankment,” Dills said.

“The car hit a tree and overturned in a ravine between U.S. 25 and the railroad tracks.”

She was pronounced dead at the scene by Grant County Coroner Bob McDaniel.

McDaniel said she died as a result of “blunt force trauma to the head.”

Joseph Volker was flown by helicopter to the University of Kentucky Medical Center.

Chelsea Volker was wearing a seatbelt. She was employed by KFC/Taco Bell in Dry Ridge. The couple was expecting their first child, a girl, later this year.

Dills said the accident is being investigated by Deputy Mike Wright. Toxicology results are pending.

“It appears that speed was a factor,” Dills said.

The Corinth and Dry Ridge Fire Departments responded to the scene.

The roadway was closed for an hour.

Volker is also survived by her parents, a grandmother, four sisters and a brother.

Complete obituary results can be found on page 11 of this issue.