By Matthew Hill
A collision between a pickup truck and a coal truck on U.S. 60 between London and Smithers during Monday’s morning commute snarled traffic in both directions for several hours, according to information obtained from Kanawha County emergency dispatchers and the sheriff’s department.
According to Russell Brown, a shift supervisor at Kanawha County’s emergency operations center, three victims were transported to the hospital with what one 911 caller described as “severe injuries.”
Leslie R. Jarrell, 21, of Naoma, is believed to have fallen asleep while traveling east in his 2005 Chevy Silverado. Jarrell then crossed the center line into the coal truck’s westbound path, said Kanawha Sheriff’s Lt. Sean Crosier. Jarrell had been at work and was on his way home, Crosier added.
The coal truck was driven by Garrett Bryant, 38, of Patriot, Ohio. Bryant was driving a 1998 Kenworth tractor-trailer style coal truck for Medford Trucking and had a passenger trainee in his truck named James Gentry.
As far as Crosier could tell, Jarrell’s injuries were the worst, although he was conscious when officers arrived on the scene. Jarrell was transported via HealthNet helicopter to Charleston Area Medical Center, while the coal truck’s two occupants were taken there by ambulance. The conditions of all three were unknown late Monday afternoon.
The traffic tie-up was blamed on an estimated 300 gallons of diesel fuel that spilled from the coal truck and had to be cleaned up.
All four lanes of U.S. 60 were closed when the accident occurred just before 7 a.m., said Brown. At 9:43 a.m., state Division of Highways crews opened one lane in each direction. Brown expected the situation to remain that way until about 1:30 p.m. Monday.
The accident took place near the Cannelton coal tipple, Brown explained.
Kanawha Sheriff’s Deputy J.M. Vernon is the investigating officer. Crosier stated that the investigation is ongoing. Smithers firefighters assisted at the scene.
— E-mail:
mhill@register-herald.com
