Lexington Police Arrest Driver for DUI After Car Hits Tree and Ignites on Russell Cave Road

A driver faces DUI charges in Lexington after an overnight car fire on Russell Cave Road. No injuries reported following the two-vehicle incident near Faulkner Ave.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 23, 2026, 8:40 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from LEX 18

A Midnight Collision Ignites Near Faulkner Avenue

The early morning silence in Lexington was shattered on Thursday when a vehicle traveling outbound on Russell Cave Road lost control. According to Lexington police, the car drifted off the path of travel near the intersection of Faulkner Avenue just after 2 a.m., striking a tree with significant force. The impact immediately triggered a fire, engulfing the primary vehicle in flames and necessitating an emergency response from local fire crews and law enforcement officers.

A Hazardous Sequence of Overnight Events

The initial wreck created a hazardous obstacle for other motorists navigating the darkened stretch of Russell Cave Road. Police reports indicate that a second vehicle, unable to take evasive action in time, collided with the burning car shortly after the first impact. While the second vehicle sustained what authorities described as minor damage, the dual nature of the incident increased the complexity of the scene for first responders arriving under the cover of night.

Emergency Response and Roadway Management

In the immediate aftermath of the fire, authorities were forced to implement a full closure of the affected roadway. Emergency crews worked for an extended period to extinguish the vehicle fire and ensure that the area was safe for investigative teams. This shutdown remained in place while debris was cleared from the lanes near Faulkner Avenue, ensuring that morning commuters would not encounter the remnants of the charred wreckage or the environmental hazards posed by the blaze.