US Route 50 Accidents & Closures: Latest Updates & Road Conditions
In the wake of tragedy, how do communities grapple with the devastating consequences of accidents on our roadways? The frequency of incidents along U.S. Route 50, specifically, has raised serious concerns about safety and the need for heightened vigilance.
The somber reality of vehicular accidents continues to cast a long shadow, with reports of incidents surfacing across West Virginia and beyond. Recent events paint a picture of ongoing challenges, forcing us to confront the potential dangers that linger on our roads.
One such incident claimed the life of Kathryn Reynolds, 71, of Palestine, who was a passenger in a crash. Details remain under investigation by Chief Deputy Robert Sims. The accident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of those traveling our highways.
The installation of a fiber optic line led to road closures on Sunday, April 27th, beginning at the intersection of Wood County Route 50/22 and Wood County Route 20, Borland Springs Rd at 7:30 a.m. This highlights the interplay between infrastructure development and potential traffic disruptions.
In Pennsboro, an accident on Saturday near Route 50 resulted in emergency responders from Pennsboro, Harrisville, and Ellenboro being called to the intersection of Route 50 and Bunnell Run around 9:30 a.m. This underscores the critical role played by first responders in these situations.
Authorities were alerted to a call at approximately 7:55 a.m. regarding another incident, this time involving Route 50 between the two Pennsboro exits, according to a Facebook post from the Pennsboro Volunteer Fire Department. The Doddridge County Sheriff's Department initiated an investigation, assisted by the West Union and Bridgeport divisions of the West Virginia State Police.
West Virginia 511 reported the closure of both westbound lanes of Route 50 at the time. Further, a missing West Virginia man was discovered deceased following a vehicle accident near Romney on Monday afternoon, and the closure of both Route 50 and Route 23/Jacobs Run Road highlights the impact of these events.
Harrison County 911 reported a motor vehicle accident involving one car and one ambulance, which led to one person being injured. Both directions of U.S. Route 50 were closed near Bridgeport Hill Road due to an accident that resulted in two individuals being transported to the hospital.
A crash occurred just after 4:30 p.m. on Route 50 west near the Staunton Turnpike exit, according to the Wood County 911 center. In another incident, a driver struck a guardrail before crashing into the concrete barrier median.
Traffic was rerouted off U.S. Route 50 westbound after a vehicle collided with the 2nd Street Bridge, and the westbound side of U.S. Route 50 was closed for an undetermined amount of time, according to the City of Clarksburg Police.
Further complicating matters, one lane was closed on Interstate 77 northbound following a log truck rollover. A semi-truck was involved in a crash on Interstate 77 southbound near mile marker 16, causing additional traffic disruptions.
After a tractor-trailer rollover, all lanes of U.S. 50 westbound near old Bridgeport Hill reopened on Monday afternoon, after having been closed for nearly 11 hours. The incident happened around 5 a.m.
According to 511 WV, the eastbound lane of 50 Northwestern Turnpike is currently closed. And according to the provided information there have been 4 accidents in the last month.
Other instances include a hit-and-run accident involving a family, which occurred on November 17, 2023, at 5:30 p.m., while they were returning home to Ohio. A red Ford Fiesta was involved in the collision.
On another sad note, two people tragically lost their lives in a vehicle crash near the entrance of Pipestem Resort State Park on a Sunday afternoon.
The accident occurred at approximately 7:19 a.m. and shut down the interstate in both directions for approximately five hours. 911 center officials stated that crews were required to reconstruct the accident.
The Harrison County 911 log recorded an accident just before 3 p.m. on U.S. Highway 50 West. Fire departments responded to a Shinnston house explosion, with two individuals being transported to UHC via ambulance. At least one lane had to be closed. The accident happened at mile marker 66.
On Monday at approximately 7:52 a.m., an accident took place on Route 50 in Salem. When crews arrived on the scene, they confirmed that two vehicles were involved in the accident, with six people transported to United Hospital Center.
A 2015 Toyota truck, driven by Brian Andrus, 24, of Lock Haven, PA, was traveling east on Route 50 and collided with a Dodge Ram, driven by Augusta's Kathleen Thorne, 77. According to reports from a press, the accident occurred at approximately 7:40 p.m.
A motor vehicle crash on US 50 at Pepper Lane (Dunmore Ridge area) led to one possible fatality, according to Hampshire County First Alerts Facebook page. Route 50 will be closed for an extended period for investigation.
The Preston County 911 Facebook page announced the closure of Route 92 south Mountaineer Highway at the intersection of Route 50, along with North Mountaineer Highway from Newburg to the Route 50 intersection and Route 50 from the Aurora Dollar General to the bottom of Cheat Mountain.
The Hampshire County Sheriff's Office issued a release this morning regarding the accident, which occurred on February 19, 2025, at about 4:00 a.m. Hampshire County 911 received a report of a single-vehicle crash at the intersection of Northwestern Pike (Rt. 50) and Bloomery Pike (Rt.)
Incident Summary | A series of vehicle accidents has plagued U.S. Route 50 and surrounding areas, leading to fatalities, injuries, road closures, and significant traffic disruptions. |
Location | Various points along U.S. Route 50 in West Virginia, including Palestine, Pennsboro, Romney, Bridgeport Hill Road, Staunton Turnpike exit, Salem, Dunmore Ridge area, and intersections with Route 20, Route 23, Route 22, Route 77, Interstate 77. |
Dates & Times | Incidents reported from April 27, 2024, to February 19, 2025. Specific times vary, with some occurring during morning commutes, afternoon hours, and overnight. |
Casualties | Multiple fatalities, including Kathryn Reynolds (71), along with numerous injuries requiring hospitalization and medical attention. |
Vehicles Involved | Cars, trucks (including tractor-trailers and log trucks), and ambulances. Specific makes and models are mentioned in some reports (Chevy Equ, Dodge Ram, Ford Fiesta, Toyota Truck). |
Road Conditions | Closures of both directions of U.S. Route 50 and various connecting routes, including Interstate 77, due to accidents and investigations. Incidents also involve infrastructure (e.g., 2nd Street Bridge) and road maintenance (fiber optic line installation). |
Contributing Factors | Driver error, guardrail impacts, collisions with barriers, roll-over accidents, possible hit-and-run incidents, and adverse weather conditions (though not explicitly mentioned, weather can play a role). |
Emergency Response | Involvement of various county and state authorities, including the Doddridge County Sheriff's Department, West Virginia State Police, and local volunteer fire departments (Pennsboro, Harrisville, Ellenboro), with assistance from West Union and Bridgeport divisions. Harrison County 911 and Wood County 911 also played a key role. |
Impact on Traffic | Severe traffic delays, rerouting of traffic, and extended road closures due to accident investigations, vehicle recovery, and road reconstruction. |
Investigations | Ongoing investigations by the Doddridge County Sheriff's Department and other authorities. Reports from 911 centers and social media (Facebook) provide updates and public advisories. |

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