A cross sits up the hill from a crashed Toyota Camry at the Whitman exit of U.S. Route 119 yesterday. The two-vehicle crash sent two men to area hospitals for treatment of injuries. The cross, one of six planted at the location, stands in memory of people who have died in auto crashes at the dangerous intersection, which recently got statewide attention after a Logan County committeeman asked Congressman Nick Rahall for help in getting caution lights installed in the area. (Photo/Michael Browning)
Logan County Sheriff's Lt. Dennis Brown said yesterday that a blue Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck driven by Robert Nelson of Holden was traveling southbound on U.S. Route 119 when Nelson attempted to cross the southbound lanes to go down the Whitman intersection and drove into the path of a northbound Toyota Camry driven by Nathan Freeman of Shinnston.
The two vehicles collided head-on, leaving the truck a mangled mess in the northbound lanes and causing the car to travel down the hillside past six crosses planted at the intersection in memory of six people who had died in previous crashes in that area.
Recently, Logan County Executive Committeeman Larry Hardesty has been trying to get the state to install caution lights or signs in both lanes warning of the dangerous intersection. Last week, Hardesty said he had received word that Congressman Nick Rahall is looking into the problem.
Logan County Sheriff's Lt. Dennis Brown said Nelson was flown to a Charleston hospital for treatment of his injuries, but was okay this morning. Brown said Nelson was treated and released yesterday.
Brown also said Freeman was transported to Logan Regional Medical Center for treatment of injuries suffered in the crash. Freeman’s condition was not available as of press time this morning.
The wreck happened around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and blocked traffic in the northbound lanes of Corridor G for more than an hour and a half. Traffic was diverted down the Holden exit through Cora and back up through Cherry Tree to State Route 73 to get back onto U.S. Route 119 at the Fountain Place Mall. Traffic was blocked only momentarily in the southbound lanes.
The Cora Volunteer Fire Department was on the scene to assist with traffic control and cleanup. Crews responded quickly and were on the scene performing cleanup by 6:15 p.m.
Brown said he didn't find that either driver was driving at excessive speeds. Brown said Freeman attempted to stop, but "had no place to go" when Nelson pulled into his direct path.
“It looked like Freeman had dynamited his brakes to try to stop,” Brown said. “You could see his marks on the highway from before the impact and after, when he went over the hill.”
Brown said the intersection is dangerous partly because of a lack of visibility caused by the curve just down the road. He said people also need to slow down and pay better attention.
"The only way to correct the problem is to shut the exit off to all southbound traffic," Brown said. "But, then there have been accidents happen there when cars have pulled out of the intersection and into the northbound lanes, too. People are in too big of a hurry. They need to slow down. Even if you’re a brain surgeon on your way to an important surgery, you can’t do the surgery if you don’t get there.
"Look at how many lives have been lost here. All you have to do is look at the crosses in that area to know just how dangerous that intersection really is."
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