A 37-year-old man from Ohio will spend seven years in prison for leaving the scene of a tragic accident that killed an 18-year-old Kentucky woman. Ricky Raider was sentenced by a Kentucky judge after pleading guilty to charges connected to the death of Lauren Collins.
The heartbreaking incident happened in June 2023. Lauren, a University of Kentucky freshman, was driving her car on Interstate 75 near the 176.5-mile marker when a tire flew off a northbound truck, crossed the concrete barrier, and smashed through her windshield. The crash left Lauren with life-threatening injuries, and she was rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Sadly, she didn’t survive.
Investigators learned that the tire came from a 1993 Ford F-250 pickup truck driven by Raider. After the tire came loose, Raider not only witnessed the deadly collision but also fled the scene. He even went as far as stealing lug nuts from other wheels to reattach the tire so he could drive away.
Raider initially denied knowing his tire had caused any harm. But investigators later found a recorded phone conversation he had with a female inmate at the Bullitt County Detention Center, just hours after the crash. In the call, Raider admitted he saw the tire hit Lauren’s car and knew it likely caused serious injury or death.
Six days after the accident, Raider turned himself in to authorities in Independence, Kentucky. However, it was the evidence from the recorded phone call that confirmed he had fled despite knowing the gravity of what had happened.
Lauren’s mother, Amy Marsh, spoke about the pain of losing her daughter but said Raider’s guilty plea brought some small relief. “To not have to sit through a heart-wrenching trial and knowing that justice will be served is a small comfort amidst this awful tragedy,” she said. Amy is now focusing her energy on honoring Lauren’s memory through a nonprofit organization she started called Shine Like Lauren.
The Boone County Sheriff’s Office, with help from their Accident Reconstruction Unit, worked hard to piece together the events of that night. Their investigation revealed how Raider’s reckless decision to drive off made an already tragic situation even worse.
This case highlights the importance of taking responsibility, especially when lives are at stake. While nothing can bring Lauren back, her family is determined to keep her memory alive and inspire others to live with kindness and purpose—just like Lauren did.
