Louisville official resigns in middle of internal investigation into vehicle crash

Louisville’s Youth Transitional Services director Toni Rice resigned Tuesday amid an internal investigation into a single-vehicle crash of her city-issued car.

She has been under investigation since Aug. 1 by the Louisville Metro Police Public Integrity Unit, according to a statement from the Mayor’s Office.

In her resignation letter, Rice cited a desire to seek professional mental health assistance.

"Everything has piled up and I need to decompress without any critical thinking or decision making," the letter reads.

Rice went on to thank leadership for the opportunity and said she took steps to aid in her transition out of the role. She declined to comment to The Courier Journal directly.

Earlier this month, WAVE3 News reported Rice’s city-issued car had veered off Interstate 71 and landed near U.S. 42 below. Witnesses say they saw an uninjured adult woman exit the car and leave the scene.

A crashed, abandoned Louisville Metro Government vehicle was found in a ditch in that area on July 31, LMPD spokesperson John Bradley confirmed to The Courier Journal. The crash was reported by witnesses, but no operator was at the scene when police arrived.

A police report was taken for the crash site and another report was filed for the vehicle being stolen, Bradley added. Bradley referred The Courier Journal to Youth Transitional Services to confirm the vehicle's operator assignment.

Despite Rice’s resignation, the internal investigation into the crash remains ongoing, according to the Mayor’s Office.

Bradley said LMPD could neither confirm nor deny details regarding an open PIU or criminal investigation, and added criminal investigations do not cease because of resignation or termination of an employee of Metro Government.

Rice also came under fire in 2017 when she was arrested and charged with stealing over $500 worth of merchandise from the Sunglass Hut at Mall St. Matthews. Her charge was amended down from shoplifting to second-degree disorderly conduct, to which she pleaded guilty.

Deputy Mayor David James announced Wednesday that Louisville Metro Corrections Maj. Steven Gilbert was appointed interim director following Rice's resignation.

Gilbert joined the corrections department in 2005.

“For nearly two decades, Steven Gilbert has admirably served this community as a leader at Metro Corrections,” James said in a statement. “He has been a mentor to many corrections officers over the years, and I know he will use those leadership skills to continue to build on the positive momentum we have at Youth Transitional Services.”

Gilbert will lead the department during its location transition to the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice.

More: Deputy mayor to step down from Greenberg administration. What we know

Reach reporter Eleanor McCrary at EMcCrary@courier-journal.com or at @ellie_mccrary on X, formerly known as Twitter. Reach reporter Rachel Smith at rksmith@courierjournal.com or @RachelSmithNews on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville official resigns in middle of internal investigation into vehicle crash