Man killed in Route 218 crash
A Fayette County man was killed Wednesday morning when the car he was driving crashed on Route 218 in Wayne Township.
State police said 19-year-old Justin Tyler Samms of Republic was pronounced dead at the scene by Coroner Gregory Rohanna following the 9:22 a.m. single-vehicle crash.
Rohanna said it appeared Samms fell asleep while driving.
According to Trooper Mark Peiper, Samms was traveling northbound in a 2003 Chevrolet Impala when he lost control of the car on a left-hand curve and traveled off the road.
Peiper said the car struck an embankment. The car then “catapulted” off the embankment and struck a large metal tank before striking a flatbed truck located at Moore and Moore Excavating, Peiper said.
Peiper said Samms was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.
Volunteer firefighters from Blacksville, W.Va. and Wayne Township assisted at the scene, police said.
The cause of death was not released.
Peiper said no one else was injured as a result of the crash.