ELKVIEW, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A man died early Thursday morning following an incident involving an ambulance in Elkview, according to the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said the incident began around 2:15 a.m. on April 16, 2026, when two female Kanawha County EMS employees observed a suspicious individual near their detachment in Elkview.
The individual was later identified as John Curtis Lucas, 45, of Clendenin. Authorities said Lucas was wearing what initially appeared to be a bathrobe but was later determined to be a trench coat.
He was reportedly prowling in the area and was believed to be holding a knife. The EMS workers left the area out of concern for their safety.
As the workers traveled along Railroad Avenue near Tudor’s Biscuit World, Lucas allegedly ran from beside a building and jumped in front of the ambulance, landing on the hood while still believed to be armed.
Deputies said the EMS workers continued driving, and Lucas eventually fell from the vehicle. The workers then contacted Metro 911.
Deputies with the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office responded and found Lucas lying along U.S. Route 119.
Lucas was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, where he later died from his injuries.
The incident remains under active investigation by the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office.
