The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

March 9, 2010

Man arrested after accident

PRINCETON — A Mercer County man was jailed on three misdemeanor offenses Tuesday after the vehicle he was driving struck a car carrying three students en route to PikeView High School.

Ira Prince Gearheart, 52, of Athens, was traveling on Mercer Springs Road at 8:05 a.m. when his Jeep Cherokee struck a Mercury Cougar carrying the three female students about to turn onto Eads Mill Road and go to PikeView High School, said Deputy W.E. Rose of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department.

The girls had minor injuries, and their parents transported them to a local hospital, Rose said.

Gearheart was later arraigned before Magistrate Mike Flanigan on charges of passing on the right, failure to maintain control and reckless driving. Bond was set at $2,500 cash only. Gearheart was being held Tuesday night at Southern Regional Jail near Beckley.

The investigator of Monday’s crash, Sgt. S.J. Cary, said other charges may be pending.

Gearheart was arrested Dec. 1 after a single-vehicle crash on Unity Road near Princeton, said Rose, who investigated that incident. He was arrested on charges of driving under the influence, improper registration and no insurance.

A trial before a magistrate was pending. Rose did not know the trial date Tuesday.

— Greg Jordan is a member of the

Bluefield Daily

Telegraph editorial staff.

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