Kentucky pair found injured after search for stolen tow truck leads to cliff base rescue

CUMBERLAND FALLS, Ky. (FOX 56) — What began as a search for a stolen tow truck on Friday night in Laurel County ended in an emergency rescue operation to extract two people who fell from a cliff.

According to a news release, Kentucky State Police (KSP) got a tip around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, June 6, that a wrecker had been stolen in Laurel County and was parked near Cumberland Falls.

A state park ranger had reportedly found the tow truck backed into a parking space and walked up to it, where he found Rex Vaughn, 55, of Mount Vernon, with Thelma Travillian, 40, of Williamsburg, inside.

KSP wrote that while trying to identify the pair, Vaughn drove away in the tow truck, allegedly ramming and damaging the park ranger’s emergency vehicle.

State police said deputies with the McCreary County Sheriff’s Office chased after Vaughn and Travillian in the wrecker. Vaughn allegedly tried to hit the cruiser of the deputy chasing him by putting the tow truck in reverse while driving aggressively. Ultimately, Vaughn and Travillian escaped.

Later that day, authorities said the abandoned wrecker was found in the woods.

Williamsburg police joined the investigation, bringing a thermal imaging drone to help troopers find the pair at the bottom of “a high cliff,” per a news release.

KSP wrote that, with the combined efforts of Woodbine Fire and Rescue and the Corbin Fire Department, a high-angle recovery was carried out to get both suspects to safety.

Despite the rescue being a success, state police wrote that Vaughn and Travillian were both found with serious injuries. and taken to Corbin Hospital for treatment.

Vaughn was charged with:

• Receiving stolen property of $10,000 or more
• First-degree fleeing or evading police in a motor vehicle
• First-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer
• First-degree criminal mischief
• First-degree possession of methamphetamine, first offense
• Third-degree possession of an unspecified controlled substance
• Possession of marijuana
• Prescription-controlled substance not kept in a proper container

Travillian was charged with:

• First-degree possession of methamphetamine
• Possession of marijuana
• Possession of drug paraphernalia

The theft and drug investigation remains ongoing, and more information will be released as it becomes available.

This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 56 News for updates.