Note: The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office has clarified information about the juvenile’s death since this article was originally published.
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A crash Sunday morning on I-81 in Berkeley County claimed the life of a five year old child and could result in criminal charges.
The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department tells The Panhandle News Network deputies responded around 4 a.m. to the six mile marker southbound on I-81 to a crash
involving a tractor trailer and a truck.
Responding units located the adult drivers of each of the vehicles but found a five-year old child had been ejected from the pick up truck.
The county Medical Examiner clarified the five-year old was found unresponsive at the scene. Emergency personnel immediately initiated lifesaving measures, and the child was transported to Winchester Medical Center, where the child was later pronounced dead.
The driver of the pickup truck was injured and transported for medical treatment. The driver of the tractor trailer was evaluated on scene.
The accident and subsequent investigation closed I-81 for several hours while the scene was processed and the roadway cleared.
The sheriff’s department reports a collision investigation has been conducted and evidence collected.
The investigation remains active and ongoing, and “extensive follow-up will be conducted to determine the cause of
the collision and any contributing factors.”
Multiple potential criminal violations are being considered as part of the investigation, although the sheriff’s department did not identify any of the individuals involved in the crash nor who among the drivers might be charged.
Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Sergeant Ritchie at 304-267-7000.
