BECKLEY, W.Va. – At least one person is confirmed to have died in the crash that blocked northbound lanes on Interstate 77 for over four hours, the West Virginia Department of Transportation announced.
WVDOT said three tractor-trailers wrecked before 1:30 p.m. at mile marker 34 on Oct. 23. Northbound traffic on the Turnpike was shut down, and work began getting crews to the scene.
Jeff Miller, Executive Director of the Parkways Authority, said crews and emergency response units responded within minutes. Miller said they decided not to officially detour traffic onto the Ghent exit, exit 28, because they were worried about making traffic delays worse.
Work was being done on US 19, and WVDOT was told to stop construction so traffic could move as freely as possible.
The Turnpike reopened to traffic at 5:46 p.m.
WVDOT said the wreck was cleared up relatively quickly because of the cooperation between the West Virginia Parkways Authority, local emergency services and police, and the West Virginia Department of Transportation.
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