FRANKFORT — A legislator who was legally drunk crashed his truck into a car late Thursday, killing himself and a Maysville woman, officials said Friday.

        State Rep. Pete Worthington had a blood-alcohol content of 0.11, preliminary results of lab tests showed. “That is intoxicated legally and medically,” said Dr. Gregory J. Davis, a medical examiner who conducted an autopsy of Mr. Worthington's remains.

        Dr. Davis emphasized that the alcohol in Mr. Worthington's system was “beverage alcohol” and it was unlikely that the burning of the body skewed lab tests.

        Mr. Worthington, 59, was a Democrat who represented Bracken, Fleming and Mason counties for 22 years. He was among the best in the General Assembly at providing for his district when the state budget was drafted. He was unopposed for a 12th term in the Nov. 7 election.

        Dr. Davis estimated that Mr. Worthington had consumed “somewhat more” than the equivalent of six beers in one hour. He said tests turned up no traces of drugs or any other substances. The General Assembly this year lowered to 0.08 from 0.1 the blood-alcohol limit at which a driver is presumed to be intoxicated. Mr. Worthington voted for the legislation.

        The crash occurred about 9:15 p.m. on a two-lane stretch of U.S. 68, 10 miles southwest of Maysville.

        Kentucky State Police Trooper Anthony L. Anderson said Mr. Worthington's Dodge pickup crossed the center line and was entirely in the oncoming lane when it rammed into a Mazda Protege driven by Sherri Commodore Chambers, 40. Ms. Chambers was a highway construction worker who had just left her job site and was heading home, Trooper Anderson said.

        Ms. Chambers' car was knocked backward and came to a stop on the east shoulder of the highway. Mr. Worthington's truck continued straight ahead and ended up on the west shoulder. Ms. Chambers was wearing a seat belt but it could not be determined whether Mr. Worthington was. Dr. Davis said both probably died instantly.

        Mr. Worthington was charged with drunken driving and speeding in Fayette County in 1992 but pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of reckless driving.

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