Recorded jail call that led to arrest in woman’s death on I-75 released

BOONE COUNTY, Ky. (WXIX) – The recorded jail call that a sheriff’s office says helped lead to an arrest in connection with a woman’s 2023 death has been released.

Ricky Raider, 37, faces charges in connection with the July 16, 2023 death of 18-year-old Lauren Collins, according to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.

Collins, of Independence, was driving south on Interstate 75 around 12:15 a.m. when her vehicle was struck by a tire that had come off another vehicle, the sheriff’s office said.

The tire came from Raider’s 1993 Ford F-250, which was traveling north, the sheriff’s office said.

After the tire fell off his truck, he came to a stop near the concrete barrier that separates northbound and southbound I-75, according to the sheriff’s office. The attacker fled the scene, according to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.

“He stole lug nuts from other wheels to attach the tire and get it on the road and off the highway,” said Major Philip Ridgell of the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.

Six days later, on July 22, 2023, Raider turned himself in to Independence Police. He admitted that on July 16, he “lost a tire on the highway last weekend, but did not believe his tire had struck anyone,” the sheriff’s office stated.

A few months later, Sergeant Jeff Nagy received a crucial piece of evidence in the case.

The sheriff’s office said the night Collins died, Raider called a female inmate at the Bullitt County Detention Center.

This call was recorded.

During the phone call, Raider again admitted that the tire had fallen off his Ford truck, the sheriff’s office said.

This time, however, the 37-year-old saw the tire hit Collins’ vehicle and knew the collision was likely fatal or caused injury, the sheriff’s office said.

Nearly a year later, Raider is now charged with leaving the scene of an accident, failure to render aid resulting in death or serious bodily injury and repeat offenses, according to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.

Raider appeared in court Wednesday and requested representation by a public defender. He is due back in court on July 24.

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