West Virginia Firefighter Blamed for Turnpike Gridlock

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An interesting read, I am looking forward to find out the outcome.

West Virginia Firefighter Blamed for Turnpike Gridlock

JUSTIN D. ANDERSON

Charleston Daily Mail (West Virginia)

Chuck Runyon, a top state transportation official, says an East Bank volunteer firefighter in charge of the scene of a fatal wreck on the West Virginia Turnpike last week used bad judgment and exacerbated an already lengthy traffic gridlock.

But the firefighter, Assistant Chief James Stamper, said Runyon was pressuring him to open northbound lanes hours before hazardous materials experts had finished their job.

A tractor-trailer overturned near the Chelyan exit at 2:05 p.m. Wednesday, spilling chemicals over the southbound lanes and killing one of the drivers - Gary Shrout, 69, of Leesburg, Ohio.

Firehouse.com Article