CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — Police in Charles Town have released more details in the crash Tuesday that claimed the life of a person on Rt. 340 near Wal-Mart.
The Charles Town Police Department reports the call came in around 5:44 p.m. April 18th that a crash had occurred just north of the intersection of US-340 with Patrick Henry Way.
“Preliminary investigation into this crash indicates a Ford Excursion was traveling southbound on US Route 340 approaching the Patrick Henry Way intersection,” police say, when the driver of the Excursion “abruptly attempted to change lanes and in doing so, struck a Ford Focus, which was stopped in traffic. After striking the Ford Focus, the Ford Excursion struck the trailer portion of a stopped tractor trailer.”
The front seat passenger of the Ford Excursion was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Ford Excursion was ejected from the vehicle and flown to an area medical facility for life threatening injuries. Neither had been wearing a seat belt.
A juvenile in the back seat of the vehicle was also flown to an area medical facility for life threatening injuries.
The driver of the Ford Focus and the tractor trailer were not injured, according to the report.
Investigation into this crash continues and more information will be provided as it becomes available.
Meanwhile, the Charles Town Police Department expressed its appreciation to members of the community who stopped to render aid at the scene.
The Charles Town Police Department was assisted by the Ranson Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office.