Pennsylvania man killed in I-68 crash near Cheat Lake identified
The passenger was thrown into the westbound lanes after the eastbound driver lost control, the sheriff's office said.
The passenger killed Sunday morning in a crash on Interstate 68 near the Cheat Lake exit has been identified as Shirish Desai of Pennsylvania, the Monongalia County Sheriff's Office said Monday. His age and hometown were not released.
Investigators said the driver, Naren Patel, was traveling east, toward Garrett County, when he lost control of the vehicle shortly before 8:30 a.m. The vehicle left the right side of the road, struck an embankment and spun, and Desai was thrown from it into the westbound lanes. He died at the scene.
Patel was hurt. Two other people in the vehicle were also taken to a hospital. Their conditions have not been made public.
Only one vehicle was involved. The crash closed the interstate for roughly two hours, sending traffic off between Exits 7 and 10 on a stretch many Garrett County residents drive to reach Morgantown. Lanes reopened before 11 a.m.
Sheriff's deputies, West Virginia State Police, Monongalia County EMS, and the Brookhaven and Cheat Lake volunteer fire departments worked the scene.
The crash remains under investigation, and no charges have been announced.
GCN will update this story when more information is released.
