The Daviess County Sheriff’s Office has released the identity of the second of the two people killed in a fatal crash earlier this month on the U.S. 60 bypass.
The Kentucky Office of Medical Examiner confirmed through dental records that 18-year-old Charles A. Dosch, of Maceo, was one of the victims, according to Daviess County Coroner Jeff Jones. Dosch and passenger Brian P. Deaton, 43, of Shelbyville, were both killed on September 4 when their 2002 Cadillac Deville crossed the center median and collided with a 2005 GMC 1500 pickup, authorities said.
The GMC’s driver, 24-year-old Justin Phillips, of Owensboro, was transported to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital before being flown to the University of Louisville Hospital with critical injuries, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators said Dosch and Deaton died on impact, and their vehicle was engulfed in flames, complicating the identification process. Owensboro Police Department’s Crime Scene Unit identified Deaton using fingerprints the night of the crash, while Dosch’s identification came later through dental records.
The crash was investigated by the DCSO Accident Reconstruction Unit, with assistance from the sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division and the coroner’s office.
The collision also spurred a meeting on September 25 between Sheriff Brad Youngman, Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen, Public Safety Director Jeremy Smith, State Representatives Suzanne Miles and DJ Johnson, and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials to discuss bypass safety. DCSO Patrol Commander Capt. Duane Harper presented data on all crashes since January 2022. No final decisions were made, but officials said several potential safety measures are under review.
In response, DCSO said it has stepped up enforcement on the bypass, conducting more than 100 traffic stops since September 4. The effort resulted in 56 citations and 44 written warnings. The enforcement campaign is funded through a grant from the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Authorities urged drivers to follow speed limits and avoid distractions such as cell phones while on the roadway.
