3 Dead After Road Rage Crash
Posted: 10:58 am EST February 1, 2010Updated: 10:27 am EST February 2, 2010
WHEELING, W.Va. -- Police are still investigating a road rage incident that left three people dead and another person wounded.The latest person to die was Steven Carpenter, 20, of Toronto. According to West Virginia State Police, he died late Monday afternoon at Allegheny General Hospital. State police had initially reported Carpenter had died Sunday, but they retracted that early Monday afternoon.Carpenter was one of four people riding in a Ford Ranger when the crash happened Saturday morning on Interstate 70.Justin Wright, 29, of Toronto, and Brittney Lynn Kusic, 26, of Weirton, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Justin's sister, Ashley Wright, 23, of Toronto, was severely injured and remained hospitalized as of Monday.According to Sgt. Scott Adams, the trooper investigating the crash, road rage and bad judgment caused the crash. David E. Hancher-Palmer, 22, of Rayland, turned himself in to police and faces five charges, including leaving the scene of an accident that involved a fatality and at least two counts of malicious assault.Police said Hancher-Palmer intentionally used his vehicle to push the Ford Ranger into traffic.Police said Palmer knew the four people in the Ford Ranger for several years. They left the same methadone clinic on Dallas Pike Road right before the crash, police said."Both Mr. Palmer and Mr. Wright previously -- we know within the last month -- that they were on the outs, so to speak. We know there was some type of altercation approximately a week and a half ago," Adams said.Adams said the incident started at the interstate entrance ramp from Cabela's Drive. Adams said Hancher-Palmer used his car to force Wright's truck from the ramp onto the westbound interstate.An oncoming tractor-trailer driver veered over the median into oncoming traffic before crossing back over and coming to rest on the right shoulder of the westbound lanes.Adams said investigators are still trying to determine the speed of the vehicles before the crash."That may be of use to us. But also the main thing, which is always the most important, are witnesses statements," Adams said. "That is quite a dangerous stretch of road. Vehicles are going anywhere from 60 to 90 miles an hour out there and this time it turned deadly."The tractor-trailer driver who was also involved in the crash -- 54-year-old Richard Ernst, of Fort Loramie, Ohio -- was not injured.Stay with NEWS9 and WTOV9.com for continuing coverage.
Previous Stories:
- January 31, 2010: Road Rage Suspected In Deadly Crash On I-70
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