Families of 3 teens killed in Glasgow crash a year ago urge community to drive sober
GLASGOW, Ky. – According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, over the past three years in Kentucky, there have been more than 49,000 crashes involving a teenage driver, resulting in more than 13,000 injuries and 197 deaths.
Three of those deaths occurred in Glasgow a year ago on Saturday, and the families of the victims are using the anniversary to push the importance of teens driving safely.
October 17, 2025 was a day that changed three families’ lives forever and significantly impacted many more.
That was the day a driver, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, wrecked their vehicle full of juveniles into another vehicle, killing three teens – Emily Corbin, William Toxie Moore and Charley Fancher.
In memoriam of the precious lives lost, the families are putting up a billboard this weekend on the anniversary of the teens’ deaths, pleading with the community to drive sober and safely.
“There’s people out there that love you. All you have to do is pick up the telephone, call someone. They will come and pick you up. There is no need for you to go through this, to put your family, your friends, your community through this. It is a horrible, horrible nightmare that no family, no community, no friend, no mom, no dad, no brothers, sisters. They should [not] have to go through this,” said Betsy Moore, Toxie’s mother.
“I love every kid that was involved, and I hope everybody gets it worked out. But it’s time we recognize there is an epidemic in our region of alcoholism and drug abuse,” said Billy Moore, Toxie’s father.
“It wasn’t an accident per se, because choices were made. And once you make one choice, it leads to another choice and then it’s all out of control after that,” said Conchita Moore, Toxie’s aunt.
Glasgow Police Officer Justin Kirkpatrick says drinking, being sleepy, texting or any other distractions while driving are especially dangerous for teenagers who are still new to being behind the wheel of a vehicle.
“A vehicle could be considered a weapon. It’s, you know, a heavy machine that goes X amount of miles per hour. That is something that, you know, we wanted the community to understand that vehicles can be dangerous if not handled and operated properly,” said Kirkpatrick.
The driver, 19-year-old Asa Howard, was charged with three counts of murder, three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment and one count of first-degree assault.
He will stand trial March 16-19, 2027.
“Her name is Charley. She was my little sister. She is loved, she is missed, and she should still be here. She was so much more than a drunk driving tragedy. She was my little sister, and her life mattered,” said Charley’s sister, Makayla Fancher-Bohr.
NHTSA reports that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States. Per mile driven, teens are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers.
“People hear about drunk driving crashes on the news all the time, but I think sometimes they forget that there are real people and real families behind those headlines. We are that family. We are the family who has to live with this loss every single day. We are the family who had to face this tragedy and not just read it online. I have to live without my little sister. Instead of having her here for holidays, birthdays, and all the moments she should be here for, we had to plan funerals, get her dressed for the last time, and try to find ways to still keep her memory alive. We don’t get to hug her again, hear her laugh, make new memories with her, or watch her grow older. We have to carry this heartbreak for the rest of our lives,” said Fancher-Bohr.
To help reduce those numbers, teens and their parents are encouraged to discuss safe driving habits such as buckling up, staying focused behind the wheel, obeying speed limits and avoiding impaired or drowsy driving.
Those are highlighted in NHTSA’s six basic rules for the road:
- Avoid Distracted Driving: Keep your eyes and attention on the road. Avoid texting, phone use, eating, adjusting controls, and other distractions.
- Wear Seat Belts: Buckle up on every trip. Seat belts are one of the most effective ways to prevent serious injury or death in a crash.
- Minimize Passengers: Having multiple teen passengers increases the chance of risky driving behaviors and fatal crashes.
- Obey Speed Limits: Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to react and safely navigate unexpected situations.
- Drive Sober: Alcohol, marijuana and other drugs can impair judgment, coordination and reaction time. Never drive impaired.
- Don’t Drive Drowsy: Lack of sleep can slow reaction time and increase the risk of making driving errors. Make sleep a priority before getting behind the wheel.
“What hurts so much is knowing that this didn’t have to happen. Charley should still be here. Our family should not have to visit her grave because someone made the decision to drink and drive. I want people, especially young drivers, to understand that one decision can change so many lives forever. You might think you’re okay to drive, or think something like this could never happen to you, but you don’t get to choose who pays the price for that decision. The few minutes it takes to make the decision to drink and drive are not worth the lifetime of pain that decision can leave behind,” said Fancher-Bohr.
