Motorcyclist dead in Laurel County crash

A motorcyclist is dead after a crash in Laurel County Monday afternoon.

Laurel County Sheriff John Root reports that the three-car crash happened around 1:00 p.m.

Investigators say that a motorcycle was believed to be traveling northbound on KY 229 when it approached a pickup truck also going northbound. The truck allegedly stopped for a mail carrier. The motorcyclist was unable to stop and hit the back of the pickup truck.

Police say that after hitting the truck, the motorcycle then swerved into the southbound lane and hit another truck. The motorcyclist was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and later pronounced dead.

The victim was identified as 31-year-old Johnathon Wyatt of Barbourville.

Both lanes of KY 229 in Laurel County, just south of Benge Grocery Store, were blocked for hours due to the crash.