Hardin County Deputy, wife killed Sunday evening in off-duty motorcycle crash

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- An off-duty Hardin County deputy and his wife are dead following a motorcycle crash Sunday evening in Hardin County.

According to Kentucky State Police, the crash happened around 8 p.m. at the intersection of US 31 West and the westbound ramp to the Western Kentucky Parkway.

Hardin County Deputy Billy Edwards, 67, of Elizabethtown, and his wife, Kathy Edwards, 58, of Elizabethtown, were riding a 2023 Harley Davidson motorcycle when a 2024 Buick Envista attempted to make a sharp right turn onto the WKP ramp.

The Buick collided with the motorcycle, causing Edwards to lose control and exit onto the shoulder of the ramp. They were both ejected from the motorcycle and pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver and the passenger of the Buick were not injured.

WDRB News has learned that Edwards was a school resources officer at Creekside Elementary School. Hardin County Schools Superintendent Teresa Morgan released the following statement after Edwards' death:

"We have learned of the passing of Creekside Elementary School School Resource Officer Billy Edwards. He and his wife were killed in a tragic traffic accident on Sunday, July 14, 2024.

"Deputy Edwards began his service as the Creekside SRO in January of this calendar year. He was well-loved by the students and staff there. He was passionate about their safety and dedicated to ensuring that students learned in a safe and compassionate environment.

"We offer our deepest condolences to the Edwards family, their friends, the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office family and, the steadfast group of HCS SRO’s, our community of devoted law enforcement officers.

"If Creekside students need to speak to someone about this tragedy, families can contact Creekside. In addition, the district has provided a list of agencies with whom the district partners on the HCS website, www.hardin.kyschools.us

"We encourage the Hardin County Schools family and our community to keep everyone affected by this tragedy in their thoughts over the days, weeks, months and even years to come."

The crash remains under investigation.