Three Young Lives Lost in Laurel County Crash: Landon Mullins, Duke Weddle and Elijah Hammons

 The Laurel County community is mourning three young people whose lives ended after a devastating single-vehicle crash late Saturday night, September 26, 2026. Landon Mullins, 17, of Mount Vernon, Duke Weddle, 18, of London, and Elijah Hammons, 18, of London, were killed in the collision on Somerset Road, also known as KY 1956, near the western city limits of London. Their deaths have left families, friends, classmates, and others confronting an unexpected loss.

According to the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office and local reports, the crash happened shortly after 11 p.m. A 2021 silver Mercedes was traveling eastbound when it entered a sharp right-hand curve, left the roadway, and overturned. The Laurel County Coroner’s Office confirmed the identities of the three people who died on Sunday, September 27. The investigation continues to examine what led to the vehicle leaving the road.

A fourth passenger, Joseph Cope, 20, of Lexington, survived the crash but sustained critical injuries. He was airlifted to the UK hospital for treatment and remained in critical condition according to the latest information provided in the reports. His condition adds another painful dimension to an already devastating event, as his family and friends face uncertainty while he receives medical care. No further details about his injuries or recovery were provided in the available account.

For the families of Landon Mullins, Duke Weddle, and Elijah Hammons, the loss cannot be reduced to the details of a roadway investigation. Each was still at an early point in life, with friendships, family connections, routines, plans, and experiences ahead. The numbers alone cannot describe who they were to the people closest to them. Those personal memories now become central to how their loved ones remember them.

The tragedy also reaches beyond the three families. London and surrounding Laurel County communities often bring together students, relatives, friends, and neighbors whose lives overlap in everyday ways. A late-night crash can therefore create a wider circle of grief, even for people who did not know everyone involved personally. Memories of conversations, shared activities, school experiences, and ordinary moments may become especially meaningful as they adjust to an absence that came without warning.

The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the crash, with accident reconstruction investigators and London Police involved. Their work is intended to establish the circumstances surrounding the collision and provide a clearer understanding of what happened on Somerset Road. Until that process is complete, details beyond the confirmed account should be treated carefully. In a tragedy involving young people, restraint matters because speculation can add distress for families already dealing with profound uncertainty and grief.

As Laurel County mourns, the focus remains on Landon Mullins, Duke Weddle, and Elijah Hammons and the lives they left behind. Their families, friends, classmates, and others who knew them now carry memories of three young men whose futures were cut short. Joseph Cope and his loved ones also remain in the thoughts of those affected as he continues treatment for critical injuries. In the days ahead, remembrance will likely take many forms, from quiet family moments to stories shared among friends. For now, the community is left to grieve, support one another, and honor the lives of three young people who mattered deeply to those around them.