Deadly crash in Bullitt County puts Highway 44 safety concerns in the spotlight

BULLITT COUNTY, Ky. (WDRB) — A crash this weekend on KY 44 in Bullitt County that killed a 27-year-old man highlighted safety concerns local drivers have voiced for years.

A particular stretch of roadway has long been a concern. Near Watergate Drive between Douglas Lane and Foster Lane, there is virtually no shoulder with nowhere to go and no room for error.

"The shoulder is gone over on the other side right at the white line," said Denny Hicks, who said he heard Saturday's crash. "So if anybody goes off, then there's no getting back without coming across the lane or going off into that field."

That's what happened Saturday night, according to Kentucky State Police.

Investigators said a juvenile driving a truck was heading west on KY 44, near Mount Washington, just after 7:30 p.m. For unknown reasons, the passenger-side tires dropped off the right side of the roadway onto a steep shoulder and the driver overcorrected. The truck then crossed into oncoming traffic and crashed head-on into an SUV.

Sarah Weisman, 27, crashed into a small embankment, and the car overturned onto its roof. Police said Weisman died at the scene. The juvenile driver of the truck wasn't injured.

"We were in the living room, and, all the sudden, we hear this crash, and we know exactly what it is," Hicks said, adding he grabbed a bag and ran out to the car.

"I was there within about a minute, but it was too late."

It's a scene Hicks said many have seen too many times now.

"The shoulder need to be fixed," he said. "If you drop off that shoulder, it's a foot drop."

KY 44 runs about 20 miles across Bullitt County. According to the most recent state data, there were 514 wrecks last year on the road, causing 119 injuries and two deaths. Already in 2026, there have been 83 crashes and 26 injuries. The only fatal crash happened Saturday.

In the stretch between Douglas Lane and Foster Lane where Saturday's crash happened, there were 24 wrecks in 2025 alone and already five this year.

A spokesperson for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said in written statement Monday afternoon that safety is its top priority and it's reviewing the data to assess conditions on the roadway.

"Nobody will act on this," said Jim Hammond, who lives off KY 44. "Nobody has acted on it, anyway. I'm glad to see y'all out here myself. Maybe it'll bring enough attention to save somebody's life."

Bullitt County residents are becoming increasingly frustrated with the dangerous condition of the busy roadway and are hoping for a change before another tragedy.