Deputy involved in traffic accident
By ROGER ADKINSArticle Photos
PARKERSBURG - A Parkersburg motorist and a Wood County sheriff's deputy crossed paths Wednesday morning, resulting in a five-vehicle crash.
The incident occurred around 9:45 a.m. Wednesday on Fifth Street near the Salvation Army. Daniel Willis of Parkersburg was driving a Ford 500 west on Fifth Street and attempted to turn left into the parking lot of the Salvation Army, said Sgt. George Fox of the Parkersburg Police Department.
Willis pulled into the path of a Wood County Sheriff's Department patrol cruiser driven by Deputy James Greenwalt, Fox said. Greenwalt, who was driving east on Fifth Street, attempted to avoid the collision but was unsuccessful.
"Deputy Greenwalt attempted to change lanes but a collision occurred. The cruiser veered into the Salvation Army parking lot and struck a parked vehicle," Fox said.
The parked vehicle was a GMC Envoy owned by Tracy Kelly of Mineral Wells. The cruiser continued on and struck another parked vehicle, a 2008 Hyundai Tucson owned by Jill Holter of Long Bottom, Ohio, Fox said.
After striking the cruiser, Willis' vehicle struck a 1990 Plymouth Sundance driven by Roger Barton of Parkersburg.
"He and the sheriff's car collided and he was coming at me," Barton said of the accident. "I was pulling out and he's coming right at me. I leaned over to protect my girlfriend and hope the glass wouldn't shatter."
Barton said neither he nor his girlfriend, who is four months' pregnant, was hurt. Fox said no one was taken to the hospital after the crash, though some involved complained of minor injuries.
Willis, 90, was listed as being at fault for failure to yield the right of way. However, he was not cited.
Staff writer Jody Murphy contributed to this report.
|
DILLIGAS
|
|
|---|---|
|
10-10-08 11:07 PM
|
Ms Olen, West Virginia is definately unsafe. I think you should boycott it completly. Especially Rt14 between Williamstown and the mall. You should tell all blue haired old ladies who run 40 mph to boycott it also. The more people the better. At least untill we can get a license plate on the other end of our cars, that should make us much safer drivers, like you. P.S., I am only going to post this one time.
|
|
MissOlen
|
|
|
10-10-08 8:41 PM
|
I wanted to post this twice...the story needs the attention.
|
|
MissOlen
|
|
|
10-10-08 8:41 PM
|
LMAO well, what do you expect.....all vehicles with no front license plate (WV) they drive just like that in marietta. See how this accident was handled? No one was cited even though 5 vehicles were involved....LOL, GO WV DRIVERS
|
|
MissOlen
|
|
|
10-10-08 8:38 PM
|
LMAO well, what do you expect.....all vehicles with no front license plate (WV) they drive just like that in marietta. See how this accident was handled? No one was cited even though 5 vehicles were involved....LOL, GO WV DRIVERS
|
|
JCB1964
|
|
|
10-10-08 1:08 PM
|
90 years old,...hell, he shouldn't even be driving a wheelchair,..let alone a CAR.
|
|
Sunnydays4me
|
|
|
10-10-08 11:45 AM
|
It is proven that what causes the most wrecks, expecially in older persons, is making left turns. So maybe he should do what the old gentlemen who was asked what he attributed living a long life to...the old man stated, "make no left turns"...and adding that he 3 right turns are the same as 1 left turn and safer.
|
|
SHELIA
|
|
|
10-10-08 8:09 AM
|
That is a hellacious area, number one the freaking Salvation Army store is full of junk, and I personlly thought that is an illegal turn if you are coming from South Side that would be insane to turn left into the Sally's parking area, omg! Isn't that a solid line there? That means NO CROSSING. I could be wrong, but if I recall, it's solid, people are dangerous man --- I hate being on the road.
|
|
DILLIGAS
|
|
|
10-09-08 9:19 PM
|
Remember, you too will be old someday
|
|
Kristine
|
|
|
10-09-08 9:07 PM
|
Of course the 90 yr old man wasnt cited...oh my we wouldnt wanna cause a heart attack! Do everyone a favor "Take his license"!
|
|
ren26101
|
|
|
10-09-08 3:57 PM
|
apparently oops :)
|
|
Boogitybear
|
|
|
10-09-08 1:17 PM
|
Squad kid what makes you say the deputy was speeding? Sorry sundays..I agree that accident was your Moms fault..Even if someone tells you to go it is your responsibility to make sure it is safe to go..Just like if you are at an intersection..A car has his right turn signal on,but doesnt turn. Its still your fault if you pull out in front of him..The driver in this accident should had been cited.
|
|
Sunnydays4me
|
|
|
10-09-08 11:44 AM
|
I know exactly where this accident took place, and I am here to tell you that is a very dangerous location. There have been a lot of wrecks there. Years ago my mother was doing the same thing this elderly man was attempting. There happened to be a large truck in the left lane and Mom couldn't see anything coming in the right lane beside the truck...she was attempting to turn left into the Salvation Army lot and the truck stopped and waved her to cross in front of him. A car came flying up the right lane and slammed into my mother and my aunt..they were both hurt, Mom was cited which she shouldn't have been..it was caused by the trucker waving her on in a dangerous situation. Since none of us were there, I feel the officer was correct in not citing this man. Why should this incident be used to run down our Sheriffs department...they do a fine job and afterall, didn't the article state that the deputy did everything in his power to avoid it. Had he not swerved, would it have been worse?
|
|
Squidkid
|
|
|
10-09-08 10:57 AM
|
Sounds like the Sheriff's vehicle was running a little fast for conditions unless he was running code.
|
|
BfromWV
|
|
|
10-09-08 10:01 AM
|
The man should have been cited. The fact that he is 90 and still driving brings up alot of questions. I understnd elderly people still need to go places but this man did alot of damage and is very lucky no one was seriously injured. Of course his insurance will most likely cancel him now.
|
|
ren26101
|
|
|
10-09-08 9:50 AM
|
He aparently thinks the Sheriffs Department stink?!?! lol DUH! hehe ;)
|
|
tubaman
|
|
|
10-09-08 9:14 AM
|
Holy jeez. This geezer damaged FIVE cars in one fell swoop? And he wasn't cited? How about confiscating his driver's license, to start?
|
|
WVPirate
|
|
|
10-09-08 7:59 AM
|
Yes, Yolarry, I must admit that I am wondering what you meant by that also.
|
|
DILLIGAS
|
|
|
10-09-08 5:27 AM
|
I was just curious as to what that comment meant yolarry
|
|
yolarry
|
|
|
10-09-08 1:52 AM
|
Sheriff's at their best.
|