5 Firefighters Injured, Man Killed in West Virginia Crash

[JohnnyOV 2]

From Staff Reports

Courtesy of Mineral Daily News Tribune

CAPON SPRINGS - At approximately 11:15 p.m. on April 3, Hampshire County 911 Center received a call in reference to a vehicle crash on Route 259 near Capon Springs, W.Va., in Hampshire County, which resulted in the death of a Romney man.  

Deputies Norm Launi, Bruce Johnson and Travis McBride of the Hampshire County Sheriff's Department responded to the vehicle crash which took the life of 50-year-old Steven Method, an Allegheny Power employee.  

The investigation revealed that members of the Capon Springs Volunteer Fire Department and work crew from Allegheny Power were working on cutting a tree from the roadway.  

As the fireman and Allegheny Power company workers were cutting the tree, a tractor-trailer traveling north on Route 259 failed to get stopped where the workers were working.  

The tractor-trailer swerved into the southbound lane to avoid striking other vehicles that were parked in the northbound lane of traffic. The tractor-trailer then crashed into the tree that the fireman and Allegheny Power work crew were cutting from the roadway.  

The tractor traveled through the tree striking four Allegheny Power company employees and three volunteer firefighters. It then crashed into two Allegheny Power company trucks, one Capon Springs Fire engine and a firefighter's personal vehicle.  

Method was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash as a result of injuries that he sustained.  

Three other Allegheny Power company employees were transported to Winchester Medical Center as a result of injuries from the accident. They were John McKee of Points, W.Va., John Sine of Fort Ashby and Brian Duncan of Romney.  

Three firefighters were also transported to the Winchester Medical Center as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. They were Chief Gerald Brill, Calyab Smith and Amanda Smith, all of Capon Springs.  

All of the vehicles in the accident sustained substantial damage.  

The driver of the tractor-trailer was identified as Melvin D. Ulrey Jr., 53, of Virginia Beach, Va.  

Charges are pending at this time against the driver. Ulrey stated that his brakes failed to work on the tractor-trailer.  

The tractor was a 2000 Peterbuilt truck owned by Legend Trucking from Virginia.  

There were emergency warning lights flashing at the time of the crash.  

Sgt. Kevin Smouse, Tpr. Dan Lahman and Sgt. M. Kingery, members of the West Virginia State Police, and an officer from the Public Service Commission also responded to assist with the investigation.  

Numerous fire and EMS personnel from Hampshire, Hardy and Frederick counties responded to the scene of the crash.  

Please remember to always use appropriate traffic precautions such as flares, traffic control ect., when on a road side scene. Lets all hope that they all make it out ok.