The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

March 8, 2010

Semi rolls over, kills driver at Turnpike rest area

By Amelia A. Pridemore Register-Herald Reporter

— A tractor-trailer ran over and killed its driver at a West Virginia Turnpike rest area Monday evening, State Police said.

The incident at Interstate 77’s southbound 19-mile marker rest area was reported around 6 p.m., said Cpl. Chris Payne of the Turnpike division. This rest area is about one mile south of the Camp Creek exit in Mercer County.

Payne said the initial investigation indicates the Jackson County resident in his early 60s had apparently stopped at the rest area to do brake adjustments. The man set the trailer brakes and crawled underneath the tractor portion’s axles.

The tractor-trailer then rolled forward and pinned the driver underneath the axles, Payne said. The man was killed at the scene.

Payne said the driver’s name is being withheld because family notification is pending. Payne’s joint investigation with Cpl. C.R. Maynard is ongoing.

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