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Driver under influence hits house

Witness: Men appeared to be having seizures

Parkersburg firefighters assist and observe as a Jerry’s Towing operator attempts to remove a GMC Sierra that crashed into a Camden Avenue house Monday after its driver suffered an apparent drug overdose. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG — A truck crashed into a Camden Avenue home Monday, destroying the front porch and causing structural damage, after the driver apparently lost consciousness while under the influence of an unknown substance, police said.

A GMC Sierra plowed into the porch at 1807 Camden Ave., Parkersburg, around 1 p.m. Neighbor Melissa Milam said she saw the truck “flying across” the parking lot of the GoMart across the street.

“He went right between the pumps, never even stopped,” she said.

The homeowner was in the house at the time but was uninjured, Parkersburg Police Lt. Greg Collins said.

Milam said when she saw the condition of the men in the truck, she assumed they were under the influence of drugs.

Parkersburg firefighters move to brace the other side of a porch roof after both posts were broken. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“It looked like they were having a seizure. Their eyes were back in their heads,” she said.

The driver “was slumped back in the seat. His foot was still on the gas,” Milam said.

In the Sierra were Stephen W. Gandee, 39, of 149 Sayre Ave., Parkersburg, and Travis Richard James, 32, of 810 Hugh St., Parkersburg, Police Chief Joe Martin said. Gandee was the driver of the vehicle.

“It appears the driver probably went unconscious in the roadway,” Collins said.

Both Gandee and James were treated and released from Camden Clark Medical Center.

Parkersburg firefighters brace a porch roof after both posts were broken when a GMC Sierra struck the porch after its driver passed out, apparently due to a drug overdose, Monday afternoon on Camden Avenue. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

Gandee will receive citations for possession of a controlled substance, no insurance and driving under the influence, Martin said. James was arrested on outstanding warrants from the Wood County Sheriff’s Department on seven counts of forgery.

Collins said “illegal” items were found in the vehicle but must be tested before they can be positively identified.

Both men were rigid and incoherent, possibly suffering overdoses, Collins said.

“They both got progressively worse, as most of our overdoses do,” he said.

Blood test results from the hospital will be subpoenaed, Collins said.

Parkersburg firefighters work to brace a porch roof after both posts were broken when a GMC Sierra struck the porch after its driver passed out, apparently due to a drug overdose, Monday afternoon on Camden Avenue. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

The crash broke both support posts for the porch and did some structural damage to the house, as well as damaging some “irreplaceable photos,” Collins said.

Parkersburg firefighters worked to brace the porch roof with boards and stones before and after the truck was removed.

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