BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

EAST KERMIT, W.Va. — One person died in a head-on collision Friday afternoon on U.S. 52 in East Kermit. Four others went to the hospital with injuries.

Officials reported the crash occurred around 1 p.m. at Tunnel Curve when a Jeep Cherokee, traveling south, crossed the center line and struck a northbound Ford Escape.

According to responders, they found the driver of the Escape deceased upon their arrival.

Emergency personnel had to extricate the sole passenger in the Escape. That individual and three individuals in the Jeep suffered injuries and were taken to the hospital in South Williamson. Two with serious injuries were later transferred to Pikeville Medical Center.

Following the crash, the road remained closed for approximately three hours. During this time, emergency personnel and volunteers applied sand to the chemicals spilled on the roadway.

Due to the road closure, Tug Valley High School dismissed some students early as buses rerouted to Route 292 in Kentucky to reach Kermit.

Billy Davis, with the Kermit Volunteer Fire Department, announced the road reopened around 4 p.m., describing the accident as “horrible.”

“Please pray for all those involved,” Davis implored, extending gratitude for assistance from private citizens, the Mingo County Sheriff’s Office, the ambulance service and fellow volunteer firefighters. “I believe we utilized every truck in the county,” Davis added.

Officials have not released the names of the victims.

Chief Deputy Allen Mounts and Sgt. Norman Mines of the Mingo County Sheriff’s Office are leading the investigation.