Two people are dead and several others in the hospital after two crashes Monday morning in Ohio County.

The accidents occurred near the Intersection of the Natcher and Western Kentucky Parkways, right around mile marker 44.

In the first crash, Kentucky State Police say the driver, 33-year-old Lian Awi, was driving under the influence of alcohol.

Police say Awi was arrested and charged with manslaughter, assault, and DUI.

Police say he was driving a van when he ran off the road, tried to over-correct his vehicle, then hit a median and flipped over.

Two people were thrown from the car and died, while five other passengers were taken to the hospital.

Police say the two deceased victims were not wearing their seatbelts.

"This case right here, it could have been a prime example of utilizing your seatbelt, it could have saved a life. We certainly want to hound the fact that we want a lot of motorists in Kentucky to start utilizing their seatbelts, just for the mere fact that it's been documented that it saves lives," says Trooper Corey King of the Kentucky State Police.

Then, just up the road, police say an officer was directing traffic near the Hartford exit at mile-marker 50.

They say a driver fell asleep at the wheel, hit another car, causing that car to hit the officer.

The officer,Chris Shepherd, was taken to the hospital, but authorities say he's expected to be okay.