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Name Withheld

Age :

Gender : Female

Race : Unknown

Date : 06/07/2024

Location : West Virginia Route 7 near Pixler Hill Road

City : Dellslow

County : Monongalia

State : West Virginia

Agency : West Virginia State Police

Officer(s) :Cpl. G.W. Merkich III

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Driver killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 06/07/2024, West Virginia State Police Cpl. G.W. Merkich III observed a green Honda Accord in the Sabraton area with occupants not wearing seat belts and no visible inspection sticker. After the Honda continued through a red light at the intersection of West Virginia Route 7 and the Interstate 68 exit ramp, Merkich activated his emergency lights and siren and pursued the vehicle eastbound on Route 7.

Police reported that the Honda accelerated to a high speed, repeatedly crossed the centerline, and entered the westbound lane near Dellslow, where it collided head-on with a westbound Jan-Care ambulance. The impact split the Honda in two. Debris and vehicles continued into the parking area of nearby businesses, striking parked vehicles.

The female passenger in the Honda sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Publicly available news reports reviewed for this update did not identify her by name.

Driver David Blaine Emerson fled the crash scene on foot. After a search, West Virginia State Police located him inside a residence on Pixler Hill Road and arrested him. Police charged Emerson with leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death. During later court proceedings, Emerson waived his preliminary hearing, and the case was bound over to Monongalia County Circuit Court.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.dominionpost.com/2024/06/10/driver-charged-in-fridays-fatal-w-va-7-crash/
https://wvmetronews.com/2024/06/10/morgantown-man-charged-in-friday-fatal-accident-on-route-7/
https://www.wdtv.com/2024/06/07/large-police-presence-route-7-monongalia-county-road-closed/
https://wvmetronews.com/2024/07/09/route-7-hit-and-run-suspect-waives-preliminary-hearing/
https://www.dominionpost.com/hearing-waived-for-man-accused-in-deadly-dellslow-hit-and-run/