Post from WV511 Wednesday night during incident (WV511)
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A teenager ran out into traffic and was struck by a tractor trailer on I-81 Wednesday night in Berkeley County.
The incident closed two lanes of traffic for the better part of an hour last night around 8 p.m.
The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department tells The Panhandle News Network it happened just before 8 p.m. at the 16 mile marker northbound.
Deputies say a 15-year-old Martinsburg boy was suicidal and attempting to jump out of his mother’s vehicle while she was driving. She pulled off the road to stop him, but he got
out of the vehicle and ran onto the interstate where he was struck by a tractor trailer.
The Sheriff’s office says the driver of the truck remained on scene as the investigation took place.
The teenager was transported to Berkeley Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
No charges are being sought against the driver of the tractor trailer.
The boy’s identity is not being released.
Berkeley County Sheriff Rob Blair called it a tragic event.
“Our deputies handled this investigation with professionalism
and compassion.”
“Our police officers unfortunately deal with events such as
this all too often,” according to the Sheriff, who said his department will make efforts to ensure that they have the help
needed to process what they witnessed.
