Late Tuesday afternoon Kentucky State Police charged a truck driver for the crash that killed the Commonwealth Attorney for Pendleton County.
Forty-year-old Daniel Gabbard is charged with wanton murder and operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.
Gabbard is being held at the Hamilton County Jail on a $250,000 bond pending extradition back to Kentucky.
Doug Wright was a well-known attorney in Pendleton County before being elected head prosecutor in 2006.
At the Pendleton county courthouse, the hallways were quieter than normal. Court and county employees say they are still in shock over the Wright's sudden death.
"It's just devastating to all of us," said Henry Bertram, Judge Executive for Pendleton County.
Wright was killed in a car crash Monday night on his way home from work.
Kentucky State Police say truck driver Daniel Gabbard crossed the center line of U.S. 27 just north of Butler and struck Wright's vehicle. Wright died at the scene.
"I suppose the best way to sum him up, you've heard the saying 'only the good die young,' well the same holds true for the exceptional as well," said Jeff Carson, Wright's friend.
Wright was a well-known name in Pendleton County.
In 2006, he was elected as the Commonwealth's Attorney also serving Harrison, Robertson and Nicholas counties. Kenton County Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders considered him a close colleague and friend.
"We're a community of prosecutors that stays in close contact with one another so anytime you lose one it hurts everybody across the state," said Sanders.
Besides being the lead prosecutor, Wright was also involved in several community organizations.
His top priority according to those who knew him was as a husband and father to two teenagers.
"You can't imagine how quick someone can be gone. A lot of times we don't thank people for what they are doing in our community. We just expect them to be there, expect them to be doing whatever they are doing and when someone is gone like this, you find out how much of a loss you have and its going to be tough on all of us."
Police say Gabbard is recovering at University Hospital and their investigation is on-going.
Funeral arrangements are still pending.
