BURLINGTON, Ky. – A violent single-vehicle crash in the pre-dawn darkness of Friday morning has claimed the life of a 48-year-old Burlington man, Matthew Combs, and left his passenger with potentially life-threatening injuries. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the tragic incident, which occurred on a sharp curve on East Bend Road, and has stated that speed is believed to have been a primary factor.
The crash happened at approximately 4:01 a.m. on Friday, September 26, 2025, in the 3000 block of East Bend Road (KY 338). According to the Sheriff’s Office, Combs was driving a 2009 Ford Focus when he failed to negotiate a curve, lost control of the vehicle, and crashed into a tree. Combs, who investigators noted was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene.
His passenger, 44-year-old Stephanie Schulze, also of Burlington, was wearing a seatbelt. She was trapped in the mangled wreckage and had to be mechanically extricated by the Burlington Fire Department before being rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for treatment of very serious injuries.
The Boone County Sheriff’s Office Accident Reconstruction Unit spent several hours on the scene investigating the crash, which shut down the roadway in both directions until later in the morning.
A Tragic Morning on East Bend Road
The call to the Boone County Public Safety Communications Center came in at 4:01 a.m., a time when the rural and semi-rural roads of the county are at their darkest and most quiet. The report was for a single-vehicle accident with injuries on East Bend Road, near Possum Path Road.
When deputies from the Boone County Sheriff’s Office and crews from the Burlington Fire Department and EMS arrived, they were confronted with a scene of absolute devastation. A 2009 Ford Focus was found overturned, its chassis wrapped around a large tree, completely blocking both lanes of the two-lane highway. The damage to the vehicle was catastrophic, indicating an impact at a very high rate of speed.
First responders immediately went to work. They quickly determined that the driver, Matthew Combs, had sustained fatal injuries and was deceased. Their focus then turned to the critically injured passenger, Stephanie Schulze, who was pinned inside the crushed vehicle. Firefighters used hydraulic rescue tools, often called the “Jaws of Life,” to perform a complex extrication, carefully cutting away pieces of the car’s frame to free her from the wreckage. She was treated at the scene by paramedics before being transported by ambulance to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, a Level 1 trauma center equipped to handle the most severe injuries.
The road was immediately closed to all traffic as the on-scene investigation began. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office Accident Reconstruction Unit, a specialized team trained in the forensic analysis of crash sites, was called to the scene. They spent hours in the dark and into the morning light, meticulously documenting the scene, taking measurements of skid marks, and analyzing the vehicle’s damage to determine the sequence of events and the forces involved.
A Life Lost, Another in Peril
The human cost of Friday morning’s crash is immense, leaving one family to plan a funeral and another to hold a prayerful vigil at a hospital bedside.
Matthew Combs, 48, was a resident of Burlington. His life was cut short in an instant. As his family and friends receive the devastating news, a community is left to mourn a neighbor. The prompt “In Loving Memory of” attached to his name speaks to a life that was valued and a man who will be deeply missed. His death is a tragic reminder of how quickly a life can be extinguished on the roadway.
Stephanie Schulze, 44, is now in a fight for her life. Her transport to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center indicates the severity of her condition. The fact that she was properly restrained by a seatbelt, in stark contrast to the driver, is a critical detail that investigators believe likely saved her from being killed instantly in a crash of this magnitude. Her family and friends are now anxiously awaiting updates from doctors as she receives care for what have been described as potentially life-threatening injuries. The entire Burlington community is hoping for her full and speedy recovery.
The Investigation: Speed, Seatbelts, and Unanswered Questions
The Boone County Sheriff’s Office Accident Reconstruction Unit is now tasked with determining exactly why this tragedy occurred. While the investigation is in its early stages, several key factors are already at the forefront.
Speed: Investigators have stated that speed is believed to have been a significant factor in the crash. East Bend Road (KY 338) is a state highway with curves that require drivers to reduce their speed to navigate them safely, especially at night. The catastrophic nature of the damage to the Ford Focus and its collision with a stationary tree are strong indicators that the vehicle was traveling well in excess of a safe speed for that section of the road.
Seatbelt Usage: The difference in outcome for the two occupants is a tragic but powerful lesson in the importance of seatbelts. Police confirmed Combs was not wearing a seatbelt, which is a major contributing factor in driver fatalities, particularly in rollover and high-impact collisions. In contrast, Schulze was wearing a seatbelt. While she was still critically injured, that simple act of buckling up undoubtedly kept her secured in the vehicle and likely prevented her from being ejected or suffering even more severe trauma. It is a detail that underscores the life-saving importance of this basic safety measure.
Other Potential Factors: Investigators will also be looking into whether impairment played a role. A toxicology report will be completed by the coroner’s office as part of the standard procedure in any fatal accident to determine if alcohol or drugs were a factor. Distraction will also be considered as a potential cause.
East Bend Road (KY 338): A Familiar Concern?
For many residents of Boone County, a serious crash on a rural highway like KY 338 is a familiar story. These two-lane roads, which wind through the scenic countryside of Northern Kentucky, can be unforgiving. They often lack the wide shoulders, guardrails, and lighting of major interstates, and their curves can surprise unfamiliar or inattentive drivers.
The 3000 block of East Bend Road, where the crash occurred, will now be under scrutiny. Is the curve properly marked with warning signs? Is the speed limit appropriate for the road’s design? This incident will likely prompt a review by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to determine if any safety improvements could be made to prevent future tragedies at this location.
As the Boone County community awakens to the news of this devastating crash, they are reminded of the responsibilities every driver has to operate their vehicle safely and to use the most basic safety equipment available. The investigation continues, but the human cost of this single moment of tragedy is already painfully clear.
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