Emergency services personnel responded to two incidents on Interstate 68 late Wednesday, one that shut down a portion of the road in Monongalia County, the other — in Preston County — sent a victim to the hospital.
A tractor-trailer fire near the Sabraton exit caused both westbound lanes of I-68 to be temporarily closed while firefighters worked to extinguish the flames.
Chief Deputy Mark Ralston, of the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department, said the fire was reported at 10:37 p.m. near mile marker 5 and the Sabraton exit of the interstate.
The tractor-trailer was traveling in the westbound lane, Ralston said, and was carrying scrap aluminum.
The fire was able to be contained to the cargo area and the tractor was able to be disconnected and pulled away from the burning trailer, Ralston said.
According to the Monongalia County Emergency Management Agency (MECCA), volunteer fire departments from Brookhaven, Cheat Lake, Granville and Star City responded to the scene of the fire.
Mon Sheriff’s deputies also responded to assist firefighters with traffic control. Ralston said deputies closed both westbound lanes for approximately one hour, then one lane was able to be reopened.
Deputies remained on scene until 11:48 p.m. Firefighters cleared the scene at around 2 a.m.
In a separate incident the same evening, Monongalia County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and West Virginia State Police, along with Cheat Lake Volunteer Fire Department responded to an accident near Bruceton Mills, close to mile marker 19 of I-68.
MECCA Director Jimmy Smith said the accident involved a single vehicle that had rolled into the median.
Executive Director of Mon EMS Forest Weyen said they responded to the accident at the request of Preston County, along with Bruceton Ambulance.
According to Weyen, at least one patient was transported to J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital as a result of the accident, but he could not comment on the severity of their injuries.
Trooper Hall of the West Virginia State Police also responded to the accident but was unable to be reached for comment on what may have caused the accident in time for this report.
