Logan County Sheriff Wallace Whittaker checking out the Smith vehicle after the accident.

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An automobile crash has claimed a fourth victim on Logan County roadways in the past two months.

The latest occurred on Wednesday, May 30, when Eric Smith, 41, of Lewisburg died on US 431 approximately four and a half miles north of Lewisburg around 5:14 a.m.

According to the Logan County Sheriff’s Department, Smith had been traveling south in his 1997 Ford F-150 pick up truck and for an undetermined reason his vehicle went off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree head on. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene by Logan County Coroner Mary Givens. Sheriff Wallace Whittaker said Smith was not wearing his seat belt at the time of the accident.

Givens said it was extremely foggy at the time of the incident, but was unsure that was the cause of the crash.

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again driving is serious and an accident can occur in a split second,” said Whittaker, getting worn down over the number of fatalities that have happened over the past several weeks in the county.

On April 1, Tracy Leigh White, 42, of Russellville, was killed on Montgomery Road in Auburn when her moped crossed into the path of a 1994 GMC pick up truck.

On May 11, an Olmstead woman was killed in an automobile accident on US 68/80 near Auburn when the driver of the vehicle she was riding failed to stop in time hitting a Ferrell Gas truck in the rear who was stopped at a railroad crossing.

On Saturday, May 19 a six year old lost his life after his mother Jennifer R. Belcher, of Auburn, was traveling eastbound on Montgomery Road when she met a vehicle on a hill crest, dropped partially off the the road and while attempting to bring the vehicle back onto the road began to rotate counter clockwise, crossing the road, hitting an earth embankment, becoming air born and overturning numerous times.

Sheriff Whittaker said he believes the all the accidents were a result of speed and/or inattention.

“People need to realize one of the most dangerous things is being behind the wheel of vehicle. People should take driving very seriously. Drivers need to slow down first of all and they need to pay close attention to their driving,” said Whittaker, adding that means no texting, talking on the telephone, being overly tired, or getting distracted by passengers in the vehicle.

Wednesday’s accident is being investigated by Sgt. Jeff Sandford of the Logan County Sheriff’s Department. Other agencies assisting at the scene included the Lewisburg Fire Department, the Dunmor Fire Department and Logan County EMS.