POWELL COUNTY, KY – A tragic ATV crash in Powell County has left 29-year-old Ashley N. Plowman dead and another individual facing serious criminal charges, according to the Kentucky State Police (KSP).
The incident occurred Monday afternoon around 2:20 p.m. in the 7800 block of Hardwicks Creek Road, a rural roadway near Irvine. Troopers say 32-year-old Shawn Cornett, of Irvine, was operating an ATV on the roadway when he lost control, causing the vehicle to overturn.
Cornett’s passenger, Ashley N. Plowman, also of Irvine, sustained fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Powell County Coroner’s Office. Cornett was initially transported to Clark Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
However, state police reported that Cornett left the hospital against medical advice shortly after his arrival. Troopers later located him at his home, where he was taken into custody. He now faces charges of reckless homicide and multiple all-terrain vehicle violations.
Cornett was booked into the Powell County Detention Center.
This is not Cornett’s first run-in with law enforcement. Online court records show he was arrested in July 2025 in Perry County for leaving the scene of an accident/failure to render aid and driving on a suspended/revoked license.
The crash remains under investigation by the Kentucky State Police Post 8, Morehead, as authorities work to determine whether speed, impairment, or other factors contributed to the fatal wreck.
The death of Ashley Plowman marks yet another reminder of the dangers of operating ATVs on roadways. According to KSP, riders are urged to follow all ATV safety regulations, wear protective gear, and avoid traveling on public roads where ATVs are not designed to operate.
Anyone with additional information related to the crash is asked to contact KSP Post 8 at (606) 784-4127.
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