By Mannix Porterfield
Two people died instantly around noon Sunday when their vehicle collided head-on with a pickup truck along W.Va. 20 in Summers County.
Dead at the scene of the 11:58 a.m. collision were Joseph Randall Henthorn, 21, of Ronceverte, driver of a 2005 Subaru, and his passenger, Belinda Lee McClung, 21, of Rainelle.
Summers County Chief Deputy James Chellis said the other motorist involved, Norman Gunter, 76, of Meadow Bridge, who was driving a Ford 150 truck, suffered minor injuries and was taken to Summers County Hospital by the Summers County EMS unit. He was expected to be released Sunday night.
Chellis said Henthorn was coming from Meadow Bridge on W.Va. 20, toward Green Sulphur Springs, when he went into a sharp curve at an excessive rate of speed.
“As he started down Elton Mountain, they were going too fast for the roadway, and crossed the center line of the road,” the chief deputy said.
Chellis said Henthorn appeared to have crossed the center line in an effort to negotiate the sharp turn at a high speed.
“When they came around the turn, they met Mr. Gunter head on,” the chief deputy said.
Elton is near Green Sulphur Springs, just a few miles off Interstate 64.
Both vehicles were totaled.
Chellis said he was assisted in his investigation by volunteer firefighter units in both Green Sulphur Springs and Meadow Bridge.
