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Driver in crash that killed Abbas family had blood alcohol level nearly four times legal limit

Posted at 8:39 AM, Jan 16, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-17 08:34:50-05

(WXYZ) — The driver involved in the wrong-way crash that killed the Abbas family was extremely intoxicated, according to a report from the Fayette County Coroner's Office.

Joey Bailey, 41, had a blood alcohol level at 0.306. In Kentucky, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.08 or more.

The Abbas family was driving home from vacationing in Florida on Jan. 6 when the vehicle they were driving in was struck by a wrong-way driver around 2:30 a.m. According to the Lexington Police Department, a white pickup truck, driven by Bailey, was traveling in the wrong direction in the northbound lanes of I-75 when it hit an SUV straight-on. The SUV then caught fire.

Inside the SUV was Issam Abbas, 42; Rima Abbas, 38; Ali Abbas, 14; Isabella Abbas, 13; and Giselle Abbas, 7.