Mayfield, KY (May 7, 2026) – A two-vehicle crash at the intersection of US 45 North and KY 849 in Graves County sent two people to the hospital on Wednesday, May 6, at 2:53 p.m.
Maria O. Garcia Rodriguez, 39, of Hickory, was driving westbound on KY 849 in a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe when she pulled into the path of a 2011 Dodge Avenger driven by Tony R. McReynolds, 66, of Sedalia, who was heading southbound on US 45. The two vehicles collided in the intersection. Garcia Rodriguez’s Tahoe then ran off the southwest shoulder and struck two road signs.
Susan D. Gossum, 52, of Sedalia — a passenger in McReynolds’ vehicle — was taken to Jackson Purchase Medical Center with suspected minor injuries. McReynolds was also taken to the same hospital, arriving by private vehicle. Garcia Rodriguez was not injured in the crash and was charged with No Operator’s License.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the collision, and more details will be released as soon as they become available. We are thinking of those injured as they receive medical care.
What Happens at Kentucky Intersections When a Driver Fails to Yield?
Failure-to-yield crashes at rural intersections are among the most common types of two-vehicle collisions in Kentucky. When a driver on a side road pulls into the path of traffic on a main highway, the vehicles involved often have very little time to react. The resulting impact typically occurs at or near full traveling speed for at least one of the vehicles.
Intersection crashes in Kentucky are documented thoroughly, with responding units collecting information about vehicle positions, road markings, and witness accounts. The direction each vehicle was traveling and which road had the right of way are central to determining fault. Traffic charges can follow if an investigation confirms a driver failed to yield or was operating without a valid license.
Graves County roads carry a steady flow of local and regional traffic, and intersections along US 45 see regular use from both passenger and commercial vehicles throughout the day.
