LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A Louisville mother is calling for changes to Kentucky’s distracted driving laws after a crash on Interstate 71 killed her young daughter. The driver involved was never charged.
Alyssa Burns’ daughter, Camberleigh, would now be five years old. Instead, Burns keeps her close in an urn.
"You wonder what they’d look like, you wonder who they’d be now. It’s surreal," Burns said.
The crash happened on a fall day, Oct. 28, 2022.
That morning, Burns said Camberleigh — known as "Cammie" — ate a waffle for breakfast and wore a unicorn and rainbow shirt. Burns and her boyfriend were driving the nearly two-year-old to her nonnie's house when traffic slowed to a near standstill on I-71.
Burns said she looked back at her daughter, who was sitting in her car seat with sleepy eyes and a pacifier in her mouth. Moments later, a white truck slammed into their blue Toyota Camry.
A heavily damaged Toyota Camry is shown after a 2022 crash on Interstate 71 that killed a Louisville toddler.
A witness told police the truck "didn’t even seem like it ever braked."
"I blinked and she’s gone. There’s no way to describe that," Burns said.
According to the coroner, Camberleigh was nearly decapitated.
"They had to piece my daughter together to have an open casket so her mother could see her for the last time," she said.
The crash report listed inattention as the only contributing factor.
No charges were filed against the driver. In a letter to Burns, the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office said the driver’s conduct did not rise to the level of criminal prosecution.
"He was going too fast and couldn’t stop — that’s murder," Burns said.
Kentucky is one of only a few states without a comprehensive statewide ban on using a phone while driving. Burns is now advocating for stricter laws, taking her message to lawmakers in Frankfort.
"My daughter deserves to be here," Burns said during testimony.
The Phone-Down Kentucky Act — which would ban drivers from holding or using a phone behind the wheel — passed the Senate this session but was never heard in the House.
Burns said she will continue pushing for change in hopes of preventing similar tragedies.
Keepsakes and an urn holding the ashes of Camberleigh “Cammie” Burns are displayed at her mother’s home. (Photo courtesy of Alysa Burns
When asked about the decision not to file charges in Camberleigh's case, the commonwealth’s attorney's office said if new evidence comes to light, the case could be reassessed — but they noted police already closed their investigation.
In a statement, the office said the case was "thoroughly and independently reviewed" and did not meet the threshold for felony prosecution based on available evidence.
The statement added that the office prioritizes roadway safety as part of its broader public safety efforts and would consider any new evidence if presented by law enforcement.
Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
