NEW CUMBERLAND, WV : Three killed in two Hancock County crashes on Wednesday, July 5, 2017
New Cumberland, West Virginia
The identities of three people who died as a result of two traffic accidents on Tuesday in northern Hancock County were released Wednesday afternoon by Sheriff Ralph Fletcher’s office.
The first fatality took place around 6:30 a.m. along state Route 8 (Veterans Boulevard), near Tomlinson Run State Park.
According to Wednesday’s press release, 26-year-old Karrie Bender of New Manchester was returning home from work when the single-vehicle accident took place.
Based on evidence at the scene, Bender was driving when she “likely fell asleep at the wheel, causing her to veer off the roadway and strike a tree,” the release reads.
The responding deputy said Bender was found unresponsive and trapped in the vehicle.
Despite the efforts from emergency responders, which included New Manchester firefighters and the New Cumberland Ambulance Service, Bender, who was extricated from the vehicle and provided emergency care, “did not survive the injuries sustained in the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene,” reports read.
About six hours later, sheriff’s deputies were on the scene of what turned out to be a double-fatality, this one along state Route 2 (Ohio River Boulevard) between Chester and Newell, near the toll bridge.
The 12:01 p.m. accident, which involved a tanker truck and a small sports car, resulted in the deaths of David McGraw, 22, of Chester and Nathan Keller, 19, of Newell, both of whom were in the sports car.
“Evidence at the scene and witness statements indicate Keller was attempting to pass another northbound vehicle but lost control when attempting to return to his lane, causing his vehicle to swerve into the southbound lane where it was struck by the tanker truck,” the release states.
Both McGraw and Keller had to be extricated from the vehicle by firefighters from the Newell and Chester departments as well as New Cumberland Ambulance Service personnel. McGraw, the passenger, was pronounced dead at the scene, while Keller, the driver, “succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash several hours later” at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he was transported by medical helicopter from Clarke Field in Newell.
The driver of the tractor-trailer, who was not named, was not injured.
Route 2 was closed for nearly six hours following the accident while deputies investigated the scene and crews cleared the heavily damaged vehicles from the area. It was reported Tuesday the tanker truck was hauling crude oil, which did not leak nor result in any environmental concern.
The accident remains under investigation.
Source :
Three killed in two Hancock County crashes