The Kentucky State Police are on the lookout for Luis Ángel González Pérez, a 34-year-old resident of Louisville, following a deadly accident on August 15 on Interstate 65 in Bullitt County. The suspect fled before officers arrived at the scene.
According to a report by local television station WAVE3, González Pérez was operating a tow truck attached to a semi-trailer cab parked on the shoulder of I-65, near mile marker 112, south of Shepherdsville. The tow truck was positioned southward to attach the cab, prompting the driver to attempt a U-turn that crossed the northbound lanes of the highway.
During this maneuver, the tow truck was struck by a 2007 Ford Focus driven by Shawn Franklin, a 43-year-old North Carolina resident. Franklin sustained severe injuries and was rushed to the University of Louisville Hospital, where the Jefferson County Medical Examiner's Office later pronounced him dead.
González Pérez was uninjured in the collision but left the scene before State Police officers could arrive. Both the State Police and other local law enforcement agencies are actively searching for him. Charges are pending and will be processed through the Bullitt County Attorney's Office.
The Suspect's Background
According to a source who contacted Cuban community media in Louisville, González Pérez hails from Matanzas and previously resided at La Ganadera farm. In Cuba, he worked as a private taxi driver and, upon arriving in the United States, settled in Louisville, where he worked as a welder, automotive mechanic, and tow truck operator.
Described by acquaintances as a hardworking individual and father of two daughters, the source commented, "A father of two girls, a hardworking person, yet he made this terrible mistake of fleeing justice at such a sensitive time."
Potential International Flight
The same source, without official confirmation, suggested that González Pérez might have left the United States and fled to Mexico, where he also has family. Fleeing the scene of a fatal accident is a felony in Kentucky, and the possibility of an international escape adds complexity to the case.
Louisville is home to one of the fastest-growing Cuban communities in the United States, with over 50,000 Cuban residents in the metropolitan area, making them the largest immigrant group in the city, according to Kentucky's state legislature estimates.
As of this report, there are no confirmed reports of González Pérez's arrest, and the accident reconstruction and investigation are ongoing, coordinated by State Police Post 4 in Elizabethtown. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts should contact authorities immediately.
Key Details About the Kentucky Highway Accident
Who is being sought by the Kentucky State Police?
The Kentucky State Police are searching for Luis Ángel González Pérez, a 34-year-old man from Louisville, in connection with a fatal accident on Interstate 65.
What happened during the accident?
González Pérez was operating a tow truck that was struck by a Ford Focus while attempting a U-turn across the highway. The driver of the Ford Focus, Shawn Franklin, sustained fatal injuries.
Where might González Pérez be located now?
There are unconfirmed reports that González Pérez may have fled to Mexico, where he has family.