ELKINS, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A motorist in Randolph County incurred nearly half a dozen charges after a weekend collision with a fallen tree.
According to the Deputy Pingley of the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, on Saturday, July 15, 2023, emergency crews responded to a tree which had gone down across Lake Mountain Road.
As emergency crews at the scene – located approximately 1.5 miles from the Corridor-H Elkins exit – awaited the arrival of additional equipment to assist in the removal of the tree from the roadway, a Chevrolet Malibu traveling at a rate of high speed approached and struck the downed tree.
Reports of the collision prompted a response from law enforcement, and at which time Sgt. Cogar and Deputy Pingley, made their way to the location of the incident.
The vehicle involved could be seen to have sustained disabling front end damage, and the driver explained to officers that his brakes had gone out as he was approaching the tree going down Laurel Mountain Road.
Deputy Pingley reports that the involved vehicle had not been inspected for nine years. Additionally, the driver reported that the vehicle was uninsured and his license suspended due to numerous unpaid citations.
The registration on the vehicle also returned information for a Ford Explorer rather than a Chevrolet Malibu.
“I concluded that the accident here was preventable,” said Deputy Pingley.
“The driver decided to operate a vehicle in unsafe conditions and put others at risk.”
The driver involved received citations for driving suspended, defective equipment, no motor vehicle inspection, no insurance, and improper registration.
