At around 6:30 p.m., Parsons' vehicle was traveling west on Athens-Boonesboro Road near Hall's on the River restaurant when it crossed the other lane of traffic and went over a 70-foot embankment, according to Clark County Sheriff Berl Perdue. The victim was dead when officers arrived at the scene. Perdue said that he does not believe that the men were wearing seat belts; however, that has not been proven.
Parsons was pulled from the vehicle by Deputy Aaron Matthews, who was first on the scene.
Officers questioned Parsons after he was treated for his injuries and found that he was the driver of the vehicle. They also determined that there was alcohol involvement, Perdue said. Results of a blood alcohol test are pending at the Kentucky State Police lab.
Perdue said that the department ran the case by the Commonwealth's Attorney's office, who then recommended the murder charge.
"It's a sad and unfortunate case," he said.
The accident site is a dangerous stretch of road, Perdue said, adding that he's seen "many, many accidents at that point."
"It's a curvy, windy road that's uphill and downhill," he said. "There is a certain responsibility you have when you take the wheel of a vehicle."
Parsons is lodged in the Clark County Detention Center. The investigation is still ongoing, as Matthews, the department's accident reconstructionist, works to determine what happened.
