The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

January 7, 2012

8 cars involved in afternoon wreck

By Kara Van Pelt Register-Herald Reporter

Eight cars — some of them parked — were involved in a Friday afternoon accident in Greenbrier County, according to the West Virginia State Police.

Trooper W.S. Snyder from the Rainelle detachment said the series of accidents happened around 2:30 p.m. on U.S. 60 in Charmco.

A driver traveling east was waiting to turn into the Little General gas station.

Another driver, also traveling east, told police he didn’t notice the stop-ped car, consequently rear-ending it and pushing it into the westbound lane where another vehicle was struck, Snyder said.

“The driver of the westbound vehicle panicked and hit the gas pedal instead of the brakes,” Snyder said. “She turned into the Little General store parking lot and hit five parked vehicles.”

Snyder said a traffic citation for failure to maintain control would be issued to the driver who initially rear-ended the stopped car, for causing what he called a chaotic incident.

“Everything spawned as a result of the rear-ending,” Snyder said. “It was a total moment of chaos.”

The driver who was rear-ended was transported to Greenbrier Valley Medical Center by Quinwood Ambulance Service for treatment of nonlife-threatening injuries, Snyder said.

Snyder said two other involved individuals refused medical treatment.

Five of the vehicles involved in the accident sustained considerable damage and had to be towed from the scene, while the three others were driven away from the scene, Snyder said.

Weather conditions did not contribute to the wreck, he noted. “It was a clear, sunny day and the roadways were fine,” he said.

“The guy who started the whole thing by rear-ending the stopped motorist told police he did not see the stopped car because he was not looking up at the roadway during that time,” Snyder said.

Names of those involved are not being released at this time.

The investigation into this incident has been completed.

Crews from the Rainelle Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the scene.

— E-mail: kvanpelt@register-herald.com

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