Myrtle Wacker Obituary, Death; – The individual who lost her life in a crash on Bardstown Road, which authorities attribute to drag racing, has been identified.
According to the Jefferson County coroner, 77-year-old Myrtle Wacker succumbed to her injuries at the scene of the incident that occurred on Friday afternoon. The determination of the cause and manner of her death remains under investigation.
Louisville Metro Police have apprehended 42-year-old Yusnier Bernal in relation to the crash, charging him with murder, second-degree assault, and two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment.
The police report indicates that Bernal was engaged in drag racing with another vehicle when the accident transpired near Bardstown Falls Road shortly after 1 p.m. that day. Wacker was a passenger in an SUV that was impacted during the incident.
The driver of the SUV sustained serious injuries and was transported to the hospital, although their current condition has not been disclosed. Bernal also suffered injuries in the crash and was taken to UofL Hospital for treatment before being released into police custody.
Witnesses informed the police that Bernal’s white Mustang, along with another vehicle, was speeding northbound on Bardstown Road just prior to the collision. Data retrieved from a recorder within the Mustang revealed that it was traveling at 119 mph at the time of the crash.
Bernal is currently being held at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections on a bond set at $250,000. He is scheduled to appear in court on November 6 at 9 a.m. Additionally, a co-defendant, Adam Steele, has been implicated in the case and was arraigned on Monday morning. Authorities report that Steele fled the scene, but surveillance cameras captured his vehicle in the vicinity. His preliminary hearing is set for November 11 at 9 a.m.
