The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department has released the names of the two people killed in last Wednesday’s fatal accident on Interstate 79 near the 149-mile marker between the I-79/I-68 interchange and Westover. However, the cause of the accident is still under investigation.
An updated press release from MCSD confirmed the two victims of the Jan. 3 accident as Zaquan Christopher George, 21, and girlfriend Margaret “Maggie” Amaris Erdie, 19, both from Morgantown.
According to Sheriff Perry Palmer, law enforcement had to wait for confirmation from the state medical examiner before releasing the names of the victims.
Thursday morning, MCSD officials told The Dominion Post that they had no new information on the accident; however, by late Thursday afternoon, the victim’s identities were publicized by the department.
The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing the investigation into the cause of the fatal vehicle accident that involved three vehicles and shut down I-79 traffic in both directions for around five hours.
In addition to the fatalities, two others were transported to the hospital for their injuries.
Erdie was a 2023 graduate of Morgantown High School. Her obituary reads, “Her family and friends will remember her for her compassion, her old soul, the way she loved her nieces, and how she was always there for everyone, no matter what. Maggie’s contagious smile and her soft and sentimental heart will also always be remembered.”
George was a 2021 graduate of West Fairmont Senior High School where he was a member of the track and cross-country teams. “He enjoyed playing basketball, video games, eating, traveling with family, spending time with friends, and also his alone time,” his obituary states.
The Dominion Post will continue to follow-up with the investigation.
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