An after dinner bike ride ended tragically for a freshman student at West Virginia Wesleyan Wednesday night.
Upshur County Sheriff's Deputies say 18-year-old Daniel Duncan of Norwalk, Ohio was killed when he was hit head-on by a drunk driver.
Sheriff Virgil Miller says the accident occurred on Route 20 about six miles south of the Buckhannon campus in the community of Hinkleville. He says Duncan was apparently riding back to campus when a truck being driven by 23-year-old Roger Lee Harrison of French Creek hit him. Sheriff Miller says Harrison was attempting to pass another vehicle when the deadly accident occurred.
Harrison County Grand Jury Indictments
The Harrison County Grand Jury has returned 63 indictments. That list includes 20 people facing drug-related charges.
The list also includes indictments against four people facing charges of sex crimes against children:
- 70 year old Ronald Lee Pratt of Tunnleton = one count of attempting to use a minor in commission of a sexually explicit act
- 36 year old Michael Adams of Clarksburg = 10 counts of sexual abuse by a parent; 8 counts of first-degree sexual abuse; 2 counts of second-degree sexual assault
- 48 year old Stanley Maditz of Shinnston = 4 counts of first-degree sexual abuse; 3 counts of sexual abuse by a parent/guardian/or custodian; two counts of first-degree sexual assault
- Kenneth McIntyre – four counts each of incest, sexual abuse by a parent, first-degree sexual abuse, and first-degree sexual assault.
Clarksburg Demolition Projects
Clarksburg City Council has approved a list of 38 demolition projects. The record-low bidder for the project was a company out of Parkersburg that will handle all the demolitions and asbestos abatements at a cost of around $351,000.
Boil Advisory Lifted
The boil advisory for water customers in the Summit Park area has been lifted. The water break was repaired and test samples were negative for contaminants – indicating that the water is once again safe to drink.
Raccoon Bait Drops Begin
Raccoon bait drops are scheduled to begin across the state this weekend. The bait packets contain rabies vaccines and are not harmful to humans or pets, but should still be avoided. The drops cover 26 counties from the northern panhandle to the southern coal fields. You should keep your outdoor pets confined or move them indoors for a week after your area’s been baited. If you find a bait pack, cover your hands and toss it into deeper cover. If your skin is exposed to the actual vaccine – which is a red to purple liquid – wash the area with soap and water.
WV Lifespans
West Virginians for Affordable Health Care says West Virginians are not living as long as others in the country. Women and people living in Southern West Virginia are especially at risk of living shorter lives than their parents.
That’s according to data in a Harvard study that examined life expectancy throughout the country.
Among the counties with the worst life expectancy rate in the state included Mingo, McDowell, and Logan counties. Pendleton, Grant, Tucker, and Monongalia counties were listed as having the highest life expectancy rates in the state.
Some of the causes for the dipping life expectancy rates include a lack of clean drinking water, high smoking and obesity rates, and possibly the impact of the coal industry.
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