Wetzel County Chief Deputy Rob Haught said at approximately 3:15 p.m. on May 15 a motorist observed a blue Nissan pick-up being driven erratically and traveling on both sides of the road nearly colliding with other vehicles as it headed north on W.Va. 20 towards New Martinsville. The motorist called the 911 dispatcher and Haught and Sheriff’s Cpl. Roger Spragg proceeded to the area, locating the vehicle in question. The deputies passed the Nissan at the Wetzel County Center for Children and Families on W.Va. 7, where the deputies turned and began pursuit. The Nissan failed to stop and continued to attempt to outrun the sheriff’s vehicles, until, according to Haught, it got stuck in traffic near the old Steele Construction business site. At that point Haught and Spragg boxed the Nissan in and arrested the man, Ryan McCormick, 28, of Scott Depot, W.Va.
Haught said although the man was driving the Nissan erratically, McCormick told the officers he was not driving under the influence, but stated he was “very tired” after having worked a long shift at his oil field job. He also reportedly said he did not hear the sheriff’s vehicles in pursuit because he was wearing earphones and listening to music. A search of the vehicle revealed no illegal substances.
McCormick was charged with the misdemeanor offenses of fleeing and attempting to allude a police officer, obstructing an officer, driving left of center, and speeding in a school zone. Assisting at the scene were Sheriff James Hoskins, New Martinsville Police Department Detective Donnie Harris, NMPD Ptl. Don Larsen, Wetzel County Adult Probation Officer John Lantz, and the West Virginia State Police Cpl. C.J. Lantz.
At the same time and near the scene of the McCormick incident, a Wetzel County ambulance was returning from Morgantown on W.Va. 7 and at approximately 4 p.m. drove left of center in an attempt to pass and avoid hitting a vehicle in front of him, according to the ambulance driver. The ambulance sideswiped a Ford Escort in the oncoming eastbound lane. The driver of the Escort was transported to Wetzel County Hospital where the extent of his injuries is unknown. The driver of the ambulance was given a citation by Cpl. Lantz for travelling left of center. No patients were in the ambulance at the time of the accident.