PAGE — Early Thursday morning Bell County Deputy Sean Pursifull and his K-9 King were killed while Kentucky State Police were pursuing a Delaware juvenile on U.S. 119 Hwy. at Page.

The teens face charges of murder of a police officer and assault on a service animal, as K-9 animals are considered law enforcement officers.

According to a Kentucky State Police report, Troopers Rob Farley and Ken Abner received a complaint of a gas drive-off from the Exxon gas station at Baxter. The two troopers observed the suspects’ vehicle, a black 2002 Mazda, traveling south on U.S. 119 doing 71 m.p.h. in the 55 m.p.h. zone. The troopers attempted to stop the vehicle and when the driver refused to stop, a pursuit ensued.

The driver, a 17-year-old from Delaware, refused to stop and the pursuit by state police continued into Bell County. Deputy Pursifull, 31, and his K-9 King, about three, were in their cruiser at Page, in front of the county garage on the northbound side of U.S. 119 waiting to assist the state police. The juvenile, going southbound, drove across the centerline to the northbound side of the highway and struck Deputy Pursifull’s 2004 Ford police vehicle in the right side, causing fatal injuries to Pursifull and his K-9, who is also a Deputy Sheriff.

Authorities said the road had been wet, but it may have made little difference. Bell County Sheriff Bruce Bennett said the teenagers’ car was traveling more than 100 mph when it left the highway.

There were no skid marks or other indications the teens ever braked as they rounded the curve and plowed into the cruiser.

The juvenile operator and his passenger, age 16, from Pennsylvania, sustained minor injuries and were taken to the Pineville Community Hospital. Both juvenile subjects were treated and released from the hospital and then lodged in the Adair County Juvenile Detention Center to await a court appearance in Bell County District Court. The juveniles’ names have not yet been released. Both teenagers are charged with the murder of a police officer and assault on a service animal.

Bell County Judge-Executive Albey Brock stated, “It’s just a tragedy on multiple levels. This was a $38 tank of gas — that’s what this boils down to. I knew him well. He was a fine young man,” Brock said of the deputy.

According to his obituary, Pursifull was the husband of Deana Horn Pursifull and the father of two children, sisters Alexis and Franki, students at Lone Jack Elementary School. Services will be held at the Bell County High School gymnasium on Sunday, Jan. 13. For the complete obituary, see page five in today’s edition of the Daily News.

Assisting Kentucky State Police at the scene were KSP Detective Mike Cornett and Sergeant Damon Gayheart. Bell County EMS and Bell County Rescue Squad also responded to the scene.

The fatality is still under investigation by KSP Lieutenant P.J. Burnett of Post 10 Harlan.

The Associated Press contributed to this story. C.J. Harte is a Correspondent for the Daily News. He can be reached via e-mail at charte@middlesborodailynews.com.

(Photos courtesy of the Bell County Sheriff’s Department and Debbie Caldwell/Harlan Daily Enterprise)