A collision between a tractor-trailer truck and a passenger vehicle near Burnsville claimed the life of a Florida man. The accident occurred on December 8 at approximately 7:50 a.m. near the 81-mile marker.
Upon arrival at the crash site, Corporal G.H. Jones of the Sutton Detachment of the West Virginia State Police discovered one of the occupants of the SUV had died from injuries received in the collision. That individual, believed to be the driver, was identified as Donte Pierre Arthur Lewis Mapps Jr. of Florida.
Two additional passengers of the SUV were transported to Braxton County Memorial Hospital with what was believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the tractor-trailer truck was transported to Stonewall Jackson Hospital. His injuries were also termed as non-life-threatening.
According to witnesses, the SUV was traveling north at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control and crossed the median into the path of the south bound semi.
Fire and rescue personnel from the Burnsville Volunteer Fire Department were on scene for several hours tending to the injured and directing traffic as portions of the south bound lane were closed to traffic.
Further investigation by Cpl. Jones determined that the deceased was not driving the SUV and that Orlando Octavius Felts, originally identified as one of the passengers was in fact the driver. The investigation is continuing. Charges are pending. The identify of the truck driver and the remining passenger in the SUV were not released.
Devoted to Braxton County, West Virginia