Police to examine truck in triple-fatal W.Va. accident
From left, Rhoda Malone, Breanna Africa and Faith Dowler
Rhoda Malone
Breanna Africa
Faith Dowler
The chief of the Bridgeport, W.Va., police department said his officers will examine a box truck that crossed the median of Interstate 79 Friday and struck a southbound van, killing a Canonsburg mother and two teenage girls and injuring three other teens.
Killed in the crash were Rhoda Malone, a church volunteer who was driving the van, Breanna Africa, 17, of Canonsburg, and Faith Dowler, 16, of North Strabane Township. Injured were Logan Malone, Rhoda’s stepson, Rhianna Browell and McKenzie Molinaro. The latter three were treated and released from United Hospital Center in Clarksburg.
All six were on their way to Festival of Life in Clarksburg, one of a series of outreach services for the community, explained Pastor Nathan Miller of Champion Christian Center in Canonsburg. The Malones, Africa, Browell and Molinaro were members of that church’s congregation, while Dowler was a member of Central Assembly of God in Chartiers Township.
The van was driving south on the interstate, not far from the group’s destination, when a northbound box truck crossed the median and struck their vehicle near the Jerry Dove Drive interchange. Molinaro said Saturday that Rhoda Malone had made an attempt to swerve before the van was struck by the truck.
Bridgeport police Chief John Walker said Tuesday an accident reconstruction specialist with the department was inspecting the truck to see if anything was wrong that may have contributed to the crash. He said two people in the truck were injured, but he did not have their names or where they were from, although initial reports indicated the truck did not have a West Virginia license plate.
“At this point, we haven’t determined if anything was wrong with the truck,” Walker said, adding he did not know when the accident investigation would be completed.