Woman Killed in Fatal Head-On Crash in Bethlehem on W.V. 88

March 17, 2011 - Bethlehem W.V. - A serious crash in Bethlehem on Sunday killed one woman and injured three others. The Wheeling News-Register reports that the victim's vehicle was struck by a teenage driver traveling in the opposite direction.

The West Virginia State Police say the victim was riding in the back seat of a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt that was traveling northbound on West Virginia 88. Meanwhile, a 2011 Hyundai Sonata traveling in the opposite direction swerved into oncoming traffic and crashed head-on into the Cobalt.

The driver and a front-seat passenger in the Cobalt were wearing their seatbelts and only suffered minor personal injuries. They have been identified as Arley McCormick, 80, and Betsy McCormick, 76. They were treated and released from Wheeling Hospital. The rear-seat passenger, Elizabeth Wright, 87, of Sherrard, was not wearing a seatbelt and suffered fatal head injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver who caused this fatal crash, Stephanie Berlinski, 18, will likely face charges, according to the West Virginia State Police. Investigators say she was working late before the accident and was dozing off behind the wheel. The extent of her injuries is currently unknown, but she is receiving treatment at Ohio Valley Medical Center.

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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