PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) – A Johnson County woman has died after her vehicle was found submerged in the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River near Walmart Supercenter in Pikeville on Sunday evening.
Kentucky State Police received a call of a missing person Sunday afternoon after the family of Vanessa Crum, 52, of Van Lear, became concerned when she did not report to work.
A ping of Crum’s cell phone enabled investigators to obtain a potential location. An officer with Pikeville Police Department located Crum’s vehicle.
The initial investigation indicated Vanessa Crum was operating a 2023 Nissan Rogue on U.S. 23, when Crum’s vehicle exited the roadway, went over an embankment, and became submerged into the Levisa Fork River. Crum was pronounced deceased on scene by the Pike County Coroner’s Office.
Detective Mahala Lewis is investigating and was assisted on scene by Kentucky State Police Post 9 personnel, Pikeville Police Department, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Pike County Emergency Management.
