PENNSBORO - A Calhoun County man died Monday in a four-vehicle crash on U.S. 50 in Ritchie County, near Pennsboro.
The traffic accident closed the westbound lanes of U.S. 50 at around 6:30 a.m.
Jonathan D. Newell, 39, of Big Bend, died in the accident, said Sgt. C.E. Boring with the West Virginia State Police detachment in Ritchie County. Officers said the crash occurred at the intersection of W.Va. 74 and U.S. 50.
Weather conditions may have played a factor in the accident, police said.
"(Police) are not sure what occurred yet," said Boring. "There were foggy conditions and weather could have played some factor."
Information on the other people involved in the crash was not available Monday, police said.
The crash is being investigated by the West Virginia State Police, with assistance from the Ritchie County Sheriff's Office.
According to James White, with the Ritchie County Office of Emergency Services, and the West Virginia Department of Highways, the wreck closed a portion of U.S. 50 for about an hour and a half Monday morning. Traffic was rerouted through Pennsboro.
White said the accident involved four cars. Ambulances from Ritchie and Doddridge counties were dispatched along with an Air Evac helicopter.
"One person was ejected from one vehicle," White said.
White said five people were transported to various hospitals.
"There were serious injuries involved," White said. "Not sure (yet) what happened."
Boring said there will be more information available today pending more investigation.
West Virginia State Police Senior Trooper Shaun McCullough is heading the crash investigation, Boring said.
