A Kentucky woman has been found guilty of second-degree manslaughter for a 2022 crash that killed another driver. Dusty Ratliff, 48, crossed the center line while speeding on a rural road in Pike County.
The crash occurred on July 16, 2022, around 9:25 p.m. on Elkhorn Creek. Ratliff was driving a 2017 silver Ram 2500 when she struck James Kelly's 2009 black Kia Spectra head-on. Kelly, 44, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Prosecutors said Ratliff reached speeds of up to 92 mph on the winding road. An expert witness supported that claim during the trial. Ratliff maintained she was heading home from her family's restaurant and swerved to avoid deer.
She was initially charged with murder. Her defense described the incident as an accident rather than a crime. Prosecutors have recommended a 10-year sentence, though the sentencing date remains unannounced.