Dec 11, 2014 1 min read

A 42-year-old Nemacolin man was killed shortly after 4 a.m. Thursday on Route 21 just west of Rolling Meadow Road in Franklin Township.

Pronounced dead at the scene at 5:14 a.m. by Greene County Deputy Coroner Bill Lewis was David M. Whipkey.

State police said Whipkey was traveling east on Route 21, and while negotiating a left curve at an apparent high speed, he traveled off the south side of the road and off the berm.

Whipkey’s Hyundai Santa Fe traveled east for approximately 195 feet before re-entering the roadway. The vehicle then traveled another 230 feet across both lanes and off the north berm, where it struck an embankment.

Police said after the impact the vehicle traveled along the embankment for approximately 86 feet before spinning back onto the road, coming to rest in the eastbound lane facing north.

Whipkey was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown into the rear of the vehicle, where he struck his head on the rear post at the hatch.