MORGANTOWN – Six vehicles, including four tractor-trailers, were involved in two separate crashes that occurred within minutes of each other on Interstate 68 in Monongalia County.
The initial accident happened Tuesday afternoon near the Cheat Lake exit. A truck headed down the mountain in the westbound lanes struck the concrete median, overturned, and spilled its load of gravel across all four lanes of the highway. Two cars driving eastbound lanes were hit.
Minutes later, a westbound semi crashed into the traffic that was stopped as a result of the first crash. The tractor-trailer hit a van and then an SUV. The SUV was pinned against the concrete median, leaving three people trapped inside. The semi continued on crashing into three more tractor-trailers.
The three people in the SUV were extricated from the vehicle and taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital. The dump truck’s driver in the initial accident was transported to Mon General Hospital.
None of the injuries were life-threatening.
The highway remained closed for several hours while crews cleared the scene.
The accident remains under investigation.