Names of 5 crash victims, including 2 firefighters, released

CHARLESTON, W.Va. Authorities on Sunday released the names of five people killed in separate weekend crashes in West Virginia, including two firefighters whose fire truck hit a rock wall while responding to the other accident.

Five members of the Pratt Volunteer Fire Department were en route to a wreck on Interstate 64-77 on Saturday evening southeast of Charleston when their truck hit the wall along state Route 83.

“It was just an absolutely horrific tragedy that none of us has ever experienced,” Pratt Deputy Fire Chief Rod Johnson said Sunday. “We were all close friends. We all grew up together around here. There’s no words that’s going to ease the pain. What’s helping everybody is the town, the citizens, the fire departments from all over the state and country are truly supporting us.”

Johnson said assistant fire chief Michael Edwards, 46, and Lt. Thomas Craigo, 40, were killed. Edwards had 25 years of service as a firefighter and Craigo spent about 15 years with the department. Johnson said both men had recently gotten married, including Edwards about a week ago.

Fire Chief Timothy Walker was in critical condition at a Charleston hospital and firefighter Bill Hypes was in stable condition. Both had head injuries, Johnson said. Firefighter Kyle Jenkins was treated and released Sunday.

Johnson said a candlelight vigil was planned outside the fire station Sunday night.

The other accident involved three vehicles on Interstate 6477, also known as the West Virginia Turnpike.

State police spokesman Capt. Reggie Patterson said in a news release that a car driven by Beatrice Patrick, 77, of Salyersville, Kentucky, was going the wrong way in the southbound lanes when it struck another car head on. The second car then left the road and struck a disabled box truck.

Patterson said the driver of the second car, James W. Platte, 49, of Westphalia, Michigan, and his wife, Tonya Platte, 38, were killed. The driver of the box truck, Jordan Napoleon, 40, of Greer, South Carolina, was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.

State police are investigating both accidents. Gov. Jim Justice asked for prayers for those involved.

“Our first responders risk their lives every day for us and when events like this happen it serves as a sombre reminder of just how dangerous the public service they provide for us can be,” Justice said in a statement.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, an entity of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, more than 95 per cent of West Virginia fire departments are all or mostly volunteer.

“It’s always hard when there’s a fatality. But when it’s someone you know and work with and see on a daily basis, it’s extremely difficult,” Shane Hudnall, a West Virginia Division of Highways safety officer, told WOWK-TV.