Injuries reported in accident with hearse

Fred Pace
Register-Herald Reporter

May 05, 2008 11:30 pm

— A hearse leading a funeral cortege was involved in a head-on collision Monday shortly after noon, according to the Beckley Police Department.
Police said the Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor hearse was traveling northbound around the 900 block of South Kana-wha Street when it was hit by a 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier driven by Amanda Bonds. Police did not release her age and hometown.
One person was transported to the hospital and other minor injuries were reported. Names of those injured were not released by the police.
Police said Bonds was traveling south when her vehicle struck a 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche on its driver’s side. Bonds’ vehicle continued south before crossing the center line and hitting the hearse head-on.
The funeral procession was held up for about 30 minutes while the casket carrying the deceased was transferred to another hearse. All of the funeral procession vehicles were using headlights and emergency flashers en route to the cemetery, funeral home officials said.
Police said the accident investigation is ongoing, but citations were pending.
The Beckley Fire Department and Jan-Care Ambulance Service also responded to the scene of the accident.

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