September 29th, 2010 | 
Author: WHEELING, WV – One driver was killed in a fiery truck accident Friday on a highway in Ohio County, West Virgina. The fatal collision between two semi trucks occurred on Interstate 70 in the city of Wheeling, West Virginia. The truck accident area is near the border with Ohio in the far north central section of the state, about 30 miles west of Washington, Pennsylvania and about 50 miles east of Cambridge, Ohio.
Early Friday morning on September 17, 58 year old Ronald Kiser of Fayetteville, WV was driving a semi trailer truck on Interstate 70, traveling through Ohio County, WV. It is not known if Mr. Kiser was carrying a cargo at the time or the trucking company he represented.
At about the same time a second semi trailer truck was driving on the interstate ahead of Mr. Kiser. The second trailer truck was moving at a very slow speed and had its hazard lights activated. The identity of the second truck driver was not released to the public and it is not known why the 18 wheeler truck was moving so slowly and using its hazard lights.
The truck accident occurred at about 2:30 a.m. Friday morning as Mr. Kiser drove through the city of Wheeling, WV. According to officials investigating the incident, Mr. Kiser came up from behind to the slow moving tractor trailer on the interstate. For unknown reasons, Mr. Kiser did not change lanes or slow down and crashed into the back of the semi tractor truck. No other persons or vehicles were involved in the truck accident.
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The force of the truck accident shoved the cab of Mr. Kiser’s semi truck under the trailer section of the slow moving semi. Mr. Kiser was still trapped in the semi cab when it burst into flames a moment later. The truck fire quickly engulfed both tractor trailers and it is possible a punctured gas tank may have provided diesel fuel that helped the blaze grow. The hot, red flames leapt into the sky and smoke filled the night air.
Firefighters from local departments and emergency medical personnel rushed to the scene of the truck accident. The firefighters battled the blazing truck drivers hoping to extinguish the flames enough so EMTs could reach the victims.
Once the truck fire died down the rescue worker worked to extricate Mr. Kiser from the pinned cab. Unfortunately the driver suffered fatal injuries in the truck accident and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the slow moving semi was able to escape his rig and was not injured in the truck accident.
Officers with the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department were at the scene and took control of the truck accident, rerouting traffic around the disabled tractor trailers. The two 18 wheeler trucks were still on the interstate as the sun rose several hours later. Both semi trucks were destroyed in the collision and fire and heavy duty tow trucks would be brought to the site to move the burnt wreckages off the interstate.
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Officers investigating the truck accident conducted a reconstruction of the rear-end collision. Authorities have not released their findings and it is not known if they have determined why Mr. Kiser drove into the back of the second semi truck. There are several possible reasons including driver inattention, mechanical failure, or driving under the influence.
No charges have been brought at this time and the truck accident remains under investigation.
For more information about West Virginia trucking laws, truck injury causes and victims rights, contact a nationwide truck accident attorney at Gordon, Elias & Seely, LLP for expert advice. For a free initial consultation, talk to a WV truck accident lawyer at 800.773.6770.
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