Two killed in head-on collision in West Virginia

By Lilly Adkins
BSN Associate Editor

WAYNE, W.Va. — Two people died as a result of a head-on collision on Rt. 52 in West Virginia Sunday morning and two others were injured. James Stewart and Bonita Garn, both of Fort Gay, W.Va., died in the collision, according to information provided by the West Virginia State Police. According to the incident report, Stewart was traveling north on Rt. 52 in a 1995 Ford F-350 pickup truck, and Garn along with two other passengers were traveling south in a 2010 GMC Terrain. Garn apparently crossed the center line into the northbound lane and Stewart swerved right off the roadway in an effort to avoid the collision but was struck head on, the report said. Corporal E.R. Robinette, Pfc. J.J. Dean and Sgt. R.J. Drake responded to the collision just south of Whitescreek Road near Prichard, W.Va., through 911 dispatch, the report said.
Upon their arrival, the officers found Stewart and Garn dead on the scene, the report said, and two passengers in Garn’s vehicle were transported to area hospitals for treatment. Pfc. F.D. Brody responded to the location for reconstruction of the crash, the report said, and the investigation is still ongoing, but drug use and excessive speed by Garn are believed to have been contributing factors, the report said.