CITIZEN STAFF REPORT

BELO, W.Va. — Joshua Allen Thomas, 18, of Dans Branch, West Virginia, died July 22 from injuries sustained after being struck by a vehicle on U.S. Highway 119, also known as Corridor G.

Thomas was hit by a car after exiting the vehicle he was a passenger in to retrieve a clothing item that blew out of the window onto the highway, the Mingo County Sheriff’s Department said.

The accident occurred around 5 p.m. near the Lenore exit, said MCSD Deputy Matt Tiller.

Thomas and his parents were traveling south toward Williamson when the clothing item blew out of the window. The vehicle made a turn at the traffic signal, crossed back over, and parked on the shoulder of the northbound lane. Thomas exited the car to retrieve the item.

After crossing the four-lane highway to recover the shirt in the southbound lane, Thomas apparently did not see the oncoming car when crossing back to the northbound lane to reenter his parents’ vehicle, the MCSD report stated.

“The driver of the vehicle that struck him was an elderly lady,” Tiller said. “She stopped at the scene and was not impaired. She was so overcome emotionally that I had to sit her in my vehicle for two hours before I could get a statement. I worked the accident while she attempted to calm herself, and even then she was still very emotional.”

STAT EMS transported Thomas to Tug Valley ARH Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

No charges have been filed.

Thomas was a student at Mingo Central High School about to enter his senior year. In his eulogy, his family wrote: “He loved and was loved by all the staff and students. He was an avid fisherman and hunter … He always wanted to be a helping hand to anyone in need.”

Thomas was a member of the Gospel Revelation Tabernacle in Chattaroy.