FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Fayette County Sheriff Jess McMullen announces multiple charges filed as a result of a serious crash that occurred on Christmas Eve of 2025.
At approximately 10:35 p.m., deputies were dispatched by the Fayette County 911 Center to a motor vehicle crash on Gatewood Road in Fayetteville after a caller reported a truck had struck her residence, causing structural damage and a fire.
When deputies arrived, they located a wrecked vehicle, and EMS personnel were treating the driver. Fire department personnel were on scene, extinguishing the fire at the residence and vehicle.
The driver was identified as Wesley V. Queen, 46, of Fayetteville.
Investigators determined the vehicle left the roadway near Gatewood Road, traveled up an embankment, struck and uprooted a utility pole, broke a large tree limb, and ultimately crashed into the side of the residence. Debris and vehicle parts were found scattered along the path of travel.
Earlier that evening, Deputies responded to a call about a vehicle matching the description of the same vehicle involved in the accident, driving erratically in the Glen Jean area, but were unable to locate the vehicle.
Through the course of the investigation, deputies obtained medical records that indicated the driver had admitted to hospital personnel to consuming alcohol and taking prescription medication before operating the vehicle. Deputies also executed a search warrant for the vehicle’s crash data recorder (the “black box”); however, the module had been destroyed in the crash and fire.
Charges were not filed immediately because investigators were required to obtain medical records and witness statements, and to execute multiple search warrants to fully determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Following the completion of the investigation, Queen was charged with:
•Driving Under the Influence (First Offense)
•Reckless Driving
•Destruction of Property
•Failure to Maintain Control
•Improper Registration
“Driving under the influence remains one of the most dangerous and preventable threats on our roadways. When someone chooses to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or mixing alcohol with prescription medication, they are putting innocent people at risk. In this case, a family’s home was struck and could have easily resulted in serious injuries or loss of life.” said Sheriff McMullen. “I also want to commend the deputies involved in this investigation for their thorough and dedicated work. Real police work is not like what people see on television. It often takes time to gather records, execute search warrants, interview witnesses, and carefully piece together the facts before charges can be filed.”
**NOTICE: ALL PERSONS ARE CONSIDERED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW**
