“Coach Mark Pope Honors Carroll County Bus Crash Victims With Memorial Visit and Announces Kentucky Basketball Tribute Game to Remember the 1988 Tragedy”
On the 37th anniversary of one of the darkest days in American history, University of Kentucky head basketball coach Mark Pope, accompanied by his wife Lee Anne, made a heartfelt visit to Carroll County to meet with surviving families and pay tribute to the victims of the 1988 Carrollton bus crash—the deadliest drunk driving accident in U.S. history.
The tragedy occurred on May 14, 1988, when Larry Mahoney, a drunk driver with multiple prior offenses, drove the wrong way on Interstate 71 and collided with a church bus returning from Kings Island amusement park. The crash and resulting fire claimed 27 lives, 24 of whom were children, and left an indelible scar on the communities of Carrollton and Radcliff, Kentucky.
Memorial Match Announced by Kentucky Basketball
Coach Pope, visibly emotional during his visit, announced that Kentucky Basketball will host a special Memorial Match later this year at Rupp Arena in honor of the victims. The game will not only serve as a remembrance but also as a fundraiser for the Carroll County Memorial Scholarship Fund, which supports local students pursuing higher education.
“This is bigger than basketball,” Pope said, standing alongside community leaders and survivors. “We wanted to be here today not only to say we remember—but to say we stand with you. These families lost sons, daughters, brothers, and friends. We carry their names forward with pride and purpose.”
The announcement was received with gratitude and emotion by the community. Many survivors and family members were in attendance as Coach Pope laid a wreath at the memorial site, shared a moment of silence, and read aloud the names of each of the 27 lives lost.
A Personal Visit, A Lasting Connection
Coach Pope and his wife Lee Anne spent the afternoon with survivors, some of whom were children on the bus that night and are now grandparents. He listened to their stories, consoled those who still grieve, and promised that Kentucky Basketball will always honor their legacy.
“We’re not just the state’s team—we’re part of the state’s heart. And this community is a part of us forever,” Pope said.
The Memorial Match is expected to take place during the Wildcats’ preseason schedule and will feature special tributes, a moment of silence, and the unveiling of a commemorative banner inside Rupp Arena.
️ Never Forgotten
As Kentucky continues to heal and remember, Coach Pope’s gesture was more than symbolic—it was a declaration that the legacy of those lost on that fateful night in 1988 will never fade.
“We remember their smiles, their spirits, and their stories. We play for them.”
