Snowy Weather Conditions Blamed for Fatal Accident on I-79 in Lewis County

March 7, 2011 - Lewis County, W.Va. - Adverse weather conditions are being blamed for an accident that killed one person and injured two more Sunday morning.

WDTV reports that the accident occurred at about 10 a.m. Sunday on I-79 near the 89 mile marker in Lewis County. According to State Police, it all started when a Division of Highways pick-up truck slowed to pull over and aid a vehicle on the side of the roadway.

A man who was driving behind the DOH truck then lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the back of the truck.

The 20-year-old man was killed on impact. Two passengers in his vehicle, one female and one male, were injured in the accident. Both were transported to Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital in Weston, though the man had to be transferred to Ruby Memorial Hospital soon after.

The medical conditions of the injured people are unknown at this time. The identities of those involved in the crash are also unknown.

Police say that snowy conditions on the interstate were likely to be the cause of the accident.

No charges are expected to be filed. According to Police, the DOH driver was not at fault.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 2009 West Virginia Crash Statistics show that there were 356 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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