A 75-year-old Florence woman died early Sunday morning in a head-on crash on Houston Road near Marydale Road, according to police. The other driver involved suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Florence police say officers were called to the crash on Houston Road near Marydale Road on Sunday, September 13, after receiving a report of the collision, as reported by FOX19. Police identified the woman who died as Mayra Ruiz, a 75-year-old Florence resident, who was driving south on Houston Road at the time of the crash. The other driver was heading north on Houston Road when the two vehicles collided head-on.
Ruiz was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The other driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to UC Medical Center, which operates the only adult Level I trauma center serving Northern Kentucky, Southwest Ohio, and Eastern Indiana, according to UC Health.
What Investigators Are Still Trying to Determine
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, the station's report notes. Kentucky law requires motorists to travel on the right side of the roadway whenever possible under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 189.300. Crash reconstruction teams typically focus on centerline violations when determining fault in head-on collisions. Anyone with information has been asked to contact the Florence Police Department Accident Reconstruction Team at 859-647-5420.
A Commercial Corridor Under Growing Traffic Pressure
A Commercial Corridor Under Growing Traffic Pressure Houston Road near Turfway Road is the site of a proposed development. The area has also been the subject of a unanimous September recommendation by the same commission to approve a $100 million hotel, office, and restaurant complex at 3700 Houston Road, per LINK nky. Emergency crews had already responded to a three-vehicle collision at the intersection of Houston Road and Turfway Road in February that resulted in head injuries and medical evaluation, according to a summary from local crash reports.
Fatal Crash in Florence
Fatal Crash in Florence Sunday's crash occurred within Florence police jurisdiction. Coverage also referenced an earlier incident.
Statewide, Kentucky highway fatalities are also part of the broader discussion. Even so, the agency's data show unbelted vehicle occupants accounted for roughly 47% of the state's highway fatalities in 2024, with speeding involved in 33%, distraction in 22%, and alcohol impairment in 19%. The article also discusses severe and fatal crashes.
The Boone County Coroner's Office had not released additional details on Ruiz's case as of Sunday. Florence police continue to ask anyone with information about the crash to come forward as the reconstruction team's investigation proceeds.
