Fatal crash victims were returning from Florida

The identity of a man who drove a tractor-trailer involved in a crash Saturday, which resulted in the death of six people, and more information about a second wreck that followed have been released.

Ibrahim Fetic, 47, of Troy, Mich., was driving a 2012 Kenworth tractor-trailer northbound on Interstate 65 when his vehicle struck a 1999 Ford Expedition in front of him at about 11:13 a.m. near mile marker 83 near Sonora, according to Kentucky State Police.

Police haven’t determined what caused Fetic’s vehicle to strike the Expedition, said Norman Chaffins, Kentucky State Police Post 4 spokesman.

The Expedition was driven by James Gollonow, 62, of Marion, Wis. He was driving his family home from a trip to Orlando, Fla., according to police.

Once hit, the Expedition immediately caught fire and struck the rear end of a 2007 Toyota Avalon also northbound driven by Janet Collins, 57, of Memphis, Tenn., according to police.

The Expedition came to rest in the grass just off the northbound emergency lane and was totally consumed by flames, according to police.

Six of the vehicle’s occupants died in it: James Gollnow, his wife, Barbara Gollnow, 62, Sarina Gollnow, 18, Soledad Smith, 8, Gabriel Zumiga, 10, and Marion Champnoise, 92, according to police.

Two occupants, Hope Hoth, 15, and Aidian Ejnik, 12, escaped the vehicle, but suffered serious injuries, according to police.

All of the Expedition occupants were Marion, Wis., residents, according to police.

Hoth was taken to a Lexington hospital, and Aidian was taken to Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville, according to police.

Collins sustained minor injuries and wasn’t transported to a hospital. Fetic was not injured, according to police.

Troopers realized soon after arriving on the scene that there had been fatalities, according to police.

Detective Terry Whittaker is leading the ongoing investigation into that wreck, according to police.

A second crash occurred in the same area on the southbound side of the interstate 16 minutes later, while troopers were investigating the first collision.

That four-vehicle wreck sent a Tennessee man and the drummer for country music singer Kellie Pickler to University Hospital in Louisville with critical injuries, according to police.

The drummer, Gregory Lohman, 36, of Goodlettsville, Tenn., was southbound and slowing for the wreck on the northbound side when a 2013 Freightliner driven by Mark Bowser, 58, of Lewisburg, Ohio, failed to see slowed traffic and struck Lohman’s vehicle in the rear, according to police.

Lohman’s vehicle then struck in the rear a 2005 Saturn SUV driven by Victor Martinka, of Glenview, Ill., according to police.

Martinka’s vehicle then struck in the rear a 2012 Chevrolet SUV driven by Stephanie Yates, 55, of Louisville, according to police.

All of the vehicles were southbound on the interstate, according to police.

Lohman suffered head and neck injuries and was airlifted to University Hospital in Louisville. He was listed in critical but stable condition Sunday morning, according to police.

Both occupants in the Saturn, Victor and Lilija Martinka, 51, were transported to Hardin Memorial Hospital, where they were treated and released, according to police.

Neither Bowser nor Yates were injured, according to police.

Trooper Brad Riley is conducting the ongoing investigation into that crash, according to police.

So far, no one has been cited or arrested in either collision. Chaffins said KSP investigates wrecks and turns its findings over to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office to decide whether action will be brought against any drivers.

Reconstructionists from Elizabethtown and other posts assisted with both wrecks, according to police.

Amber Coulter can be reached at (270) 505-1746 or acoulter@thenewsenterprise.com.