Police: Alcohol and Speed May Have Caused I-68 Rollover Crash

September 27, 2010 - Preston County - A car accident in Preston County late Thursday evening sent one victim to the hospital.

WDTV reports that the accident occurred at about 9:00 p.m. Thursday on Interstate 68 close to mile marker 30. A Dodge Ram, driven by Michael G. Lacik, 46, of Chesapeake, VA, was travelling eastbound on the highway when it suddenly veered out of control and sideswiped another vehicle.

Lacik's vehicle then flipped over several times and launched over a guardrail before finally coming to stop in an embankment. Lacik was thrown from the vehicle as it rolled.

Lacik had to be flown to Ruby Memorial Hospital via HealthNet. His  medical condition has not yet been released. The driver of the second vehicle, Thomas Wrenn, 57, of Morgantown, received no injuries in the rollover crash.

The eastbound lanes of I-68 were blocked for roughly 90 minutes as the accident was cleaned up and investigated. Officials have listed alcohol and speed as potential causes of the accident. The rollover crash remains under investigation.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 2008 West Virginia Crash Statistics show that there were 380 fatalities as a result of car accidents in West Virginia.

In an effort to raise awareness of common factors in serious and fatal car accidents in West Virginia, our firm routinely publishes news items about traffic crashes in our region.

Common West Virginia accidents include, but are not limited to:

• single-car crashes;
• tractor-trailer accidents;
• accidents caused by hazardous road conditions; and
• distracted driver crashes.

 

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