Beech Tree News Network

UPDATE: Officer Taulbee had been dispatched to the scene of a possible attempted break-in of an apartment according to Hodgenville Mayor Terry Cruse.
It’s unclear what led to Taulbee’s pursuit of a silver Nissan Altima, driven by Jason Alvis, 29, of Hodgenville.
According to Kentucky State Police, the vehicles were eastbound on Ky. 210 when Taulbee lost control of his cruiser about 3:43 a.m.
The cruiser spun clockwise, left the roadway on the eastbound side, struck an earth embankment on the driver’s side, went airborne and came to final rest in a ditch. Taulbee, who was wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle.
Taulbee was treated for injuries at the scene by LaRue County EMS. He was transported to Hardin Memorial Hospital and flown to University Hospital in Louisville. According to KSP, he died just before 6:30 a.m.
The suspect continued driving from the scene of the crash, according to KSP. He later turned himself in at the LaRue County Jail before 9 a.m. Jason Alvis is charged with first-degree wanton endangerment, first-degree fleeing and evading police.

9/16/12: Former Morgantown Police Officer and Butler County Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Taulbee,43, has been killed in the line of duty.  Taulbee had been serving as an officer with the Hodgenville Police Department for the last 13 months.   He was killed during a high-speed car chase in LaRue County, on Campbellsville Road, early Sunday morning. Taulbee was transported to the University of Louisville Hospital, where he later died.

Taulbee was chasing Jason L. Avis, who in police custody and charged with wanton endangerment and fleeing and evading police. Avis turned himself into police.

Officer Taulbee is survived by his wife Elizabeth, daughter Audra, and son Austin.