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Saturday, March 8, 2008 - 11:53AM 
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Saturday, March 8 Charleston, WV icy crash/spinout video
 ARTICLE: Thanks to the Charleston Daily Mail for their article in today's paper!
PHOTO GALLERY: March 8 snowstorm chase log/photos
The toll at Oakwood/Fort Hill this morning was nine accidents/spinouts, eight of which are on camera. The culprit was a very slick coating of freezing rain and sleet that was present on the bridge only. I assembled this quick video clip (click to play). Watch the first car for the flash of lightning and low rumble of thunder as the accident happens:
Click to play video
Here is another clip of lightning during this episode of "thundersleet/thunder-freezing-rain" at a temp of 30°F:
Click to play video
As I finished shooting aftermath b-roll, the freezing rain quickly changed to snow (as you can see in the video). Already close to 3 inches outside now, and the roads are covered. However, after this morning's events I think I am calling it a day. I may venture out later to get some stills.
 | Quite impressive, but I need to say in Quebec,Canada it was a little bit more "desastrous". We received more than 15 inch with winds going to 50 miles per hours. There was about 10 highways where people left their cars and were saved by the police in snowmobile. Journalist speaks french, but you only need to see to understand ... http://lcn.canoe.ca/cgi-bin/player/video.cgi?file=/lcn/actualite/regional/20080309_drolet.wmv
- Posted by Philipp from Montreal, Canada | |  | |
Hey Dan, im a storm chaser in canada and i saw your video on the news...some of thoes crashes were crazy!
- Posted by Jayson from Oakville,Ontario,canada | | | |
I think the red car above is mine...we survived.
- Posted by Niki | | | |
WOW,
Hey Dan,
I hope no one was killed in the Oakwood Acc.
based on your footage, It looked to me that car
that hit the silver car had enough room on both sides to have tried to gone around.
Congrats on great coverage of this accident. Rocky
- Posted by Rocky Burrows from oakwood acc. | | | |
dan,
awesome photography :)
- Posted by Stella from Canada | | | |
DAN,
I SAW THIS ON THE WEATHER CHANNEL, TOP NOTCH !
I HAVE TO SAY THAT I AGREE WITH ROCKY, LOOKED TO
ME LIKE THE SILVER CAR WAS TOAST. PLENTY ROOM ON BOTH SIDES. GUESS YOU JUST HAVE TO BE THERE, NOT !
- Posted by BRAD from CHARLESTON WV | | | |
hey dan,
just browsing through. i blame the state of wva
for these terrible accidents. apparentley this happens at this site/location frequently. seems
to me that they would moniter this area more closely and treat the roads at the first sight of
temp going below freezing. i have traveled through wv several times and the roads are horrible (pot hole heaven)
- Posted by Teddy Davenport from Ohio | | | |
Teddy,
You are so right. Not only this accident but
most of them that happen in this location could be
prevented. I spoke to a wrecker driver that told
me when it freezes. they just sit in truck and
wait for calls to go clean these crashed cars from
the highway. He said its terrible but good business. WVA Highway Patrol should do a better job watching this area. I have tuned into to this
web site for years reading and watching the accidents that have taken place in this exact
location. some survive and some do not. But all
of them go away with large bills to be paid for
by them or their families.
Come on WVA you can do better than this.....
- Posted by BILL Thaxton from Chas Wva | | | |
I think it is pretty bad that you profit from someone else's tragedies with out their permission.
- Posted by Kayla - concern citizen from Cross Lanes | | | |
Thanks for the comments everyone! Kayla, I'm sorry you feel that way. My job as a cameraman is to cover all types of severe weather, and this is just one of many different types of weather-related hazards I document. The weather does its thing whether I'm there filming or not. I do get paid for shooting weather video, but it's because it is hard work just like any other job. My hope is that this type of video will help prevent future accidents by reminding people to slow down at this spot. Most of the accidents here are very minor in nature and some don't even result in damage. I've tried to do my part to make this spot safer by contacting the governor, Senator Byrd, Congresswoman Capito, and the highway department to make them aware of it. But as long as this compelling subject is there, it is something that needs to be covered.
- Posted by Dan R. from Charleston, WV | | | |
Whoooa, I know that person that was driving the silver car, He is a nice young man. He attends the school where I teach. Bad things happen to good people.
- Posted by Sam I Am from Charleston, WV | | | |
Dan, great video. I was in Vegas and saw it on the news. Hopefully people will see it and drive more carefully. The video is lesson in the dangers of ice on roads. Thanks for sharing.
- Posted by Bill Hark | | | |
Very well spoken Dan !
- Posted by BILL Thaxton from Chas Wva | | | |
I agree w/Kayla, Shame on You !
These people need our prayers and should not be used for any one to make a profit.
To profit from ones loss is gambling.
Call it what you like its still just wrong.
- Posted by Cindy H. from Elkview, WV | | | |
The video should tell people they need to use caution anytime there is bad weather. I saw the footage on the Charlotte news Saturday night. I grew up in Cross Lanes and drove that bridge many times over the years in good and bad weather and it pays to slow down.
- Posted by Lee Ann from Tega Cay, SC | | | |
I totally disagree with Cindy and Kayla. As a freelance photographer it is your job to capture news. Motor vehicle accidents kill more people than anything else in this country and the video may help to see what needs to be done to cut down the number of accidents. Doctors profit from death, but that is what they do. Judges and lawyers profit from the crimes of others or we wouldn't even need them. I don't understand these women or their logic. Keep up the good work Dan. It is appreciated by most people, but you are always going to have a few in the crowd that just don't get it.
- Posted by Fred from Charleston | | | |
| I thought I'd post these two letters I received last year from Senator Byrd (left) and WV Secretary of Transportation Paul Mattox (right) about the Fort Hill/Oakwood Bridge (click each letter to enlarge):
 
- Posted by Dan R. from Charleston, WV | | | |
Ever thought of treating the bridges before they become a nightmare?
- Posted by BarbaraCarnes from Carver,Ma | | | |
the pics look scarey, i would love to watch the videos but im at school...yeah they dont allow that! but as far as i can see it looks pretty bad, most people say that we have bad weather because we upset god,now if that where true We'd be in Deep Water! u guys have a amazing site! Keep on doin wat ur doin, AND dont give up on GOD!
- Posted by Lacey from Lexington High School | | | |
maybe there wouldnt be so many wrecks if people would think to slow down when the roads are wet and temperatures are freezing, and i could almost guarantee that those cell phones had something to do with these.
- Posted by Dr. Acula | | | |
Dr Acula,
I could not agree w/u more. I bet the
person that slammed into the silver car was
on their cell phone, Because it is Obvious they
did not even try to miss that car. I watched the
video over and over, you instincts tell you to
swerve away from something in your path. Unless
you wern'y paying any attention to the car in front of you. Possibly talkin on phone or even
changing radio stations. Thanks again Dan for graet coverage.
- Posted by BILL Thaxton from Chas Wva | | | |
Hello Dan,
I heard about this site from a friend. I know
the person that was driving the silver car. He was
on his way to work, he was not late, he was not
talking on a cell phone or even playing with the radio. He was driving along, approx 60 mph,
posted speed for that area, when he realized the road was worse than he thought, He had just gotten on the interstate at Montrose, As he approached the curve he started to slow down and by then it was to late. He hit a large icy area where he lost control of his vehicle. after sliding approx 4o ft, then the car came to a halt, his car had stalled in the middle lane. He looked up and Bam! car #2 hit him and knocked him 180% placing the car in opposite direction. In my opinion, Yes he caused the accident. However The car behind him failed to maintain control of his vehicle, resulting in a horrible accident that could have killed both of them.
Thanks be to God that was not the case. The other driver car #2 air bad did not deploy, causing him
to experience neck and shoulder pain, so he was
transported to hosp to be checked out.
This accident was due to The State of Wva not
responding to this area in adequate time to treat the road to prevent, as you have said so your self in an area well known to have frequent accidents when the weather turns cold.
Thank you for your letters that you have sent to
proper Authorities. It amazes me why to this day they choose to do nothing about it.
So now everyone can quit speculating what happen.
It was a horrible accident that could have been
prevented had the road Dept responded sooner.
Esp. To an area well known for freezing over.
Oh Yeah, By the way you have an awesome site.
God Bless You and Both of the drivers that was
involved in that terrible wreck.
- Posted by Thankful Relative from Charleston WV | | | |
Thankful Relative, I watched the video several times myself and I agree that Car #2 did not maintain control of his vehicle. It appears that he did not even try to steer away from Car #1 he just hit him straight on. Apparently his mind was else where. The State of WV really does need to step up and do something about that area. How many accidents is it going to take before they start to take this seriously?
- Posted by John S. from Sissonville | | | |
HEY DAN,
YOU DID A FANTASTIC JOB CAPTURING THIS VIDEO,
I HAVE SEEN THIS ON ALL OF THE NEWS CHANNELS
NATION WIDE, INCLUDING WEATHER CHANNELS.
I DONT KNOW EITHER ONE, BUT THANK GOD THEY BOTH
WERE NOT KILLED. I AGREE WITH ALL OF THE OTHERS.
WHY WVA HIGHWAY PATROL DOES NOT DO MORE TO PREVENT
THIS SURE BEATS THE HECK OUT OF ME ???????
HAVE A GREAT DAY ! FABULOUS COVERAGE I MUST SAY !
- Posted by Timmy T from Elkview, Wva | | | |
Hey Dan,
You've done it again. The Daily mail mentions
your article again today 3-13-2008 in the paper,
"A new tactic for icy bridges". Mabe they will get
their heads out of the sand and listen to what you
have been telling them. Something needs to be done. If this will save one life, just one life
will be worth the money and effort to correct this
danger on the Interstates. Keep up the great work.
You may only be one person, but sometimes thats
all it takes to make a differance. "God Bless"
- Posted by Rick from Charleston, Wva | | | |
It was named the Carter Memorial Bridge for a reason. Why do people want to change something because someone has trouble saying what it is. Do you change your name because someone can't say or remember it?
- Posted by Tom from Cross Lanes | | | |
WELL, I AM SURE MR CARTER WOULDN'T MIND IF THE
ACCIDENT PRONE BRIDGE RECIEVED A FACE LIFT THAT COULD SAVE LIVES. AND IF YOU MIND, GET OVER IT.
WE LIVE IN TODAYS WORLD AND WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS. NOT THE PAST !
- Posted by FRED from DUNBAR | | | |
I have to agree w/Fred, If it will save lives
I say do it. re-surfacing that bridge will give
it a more rigid tire gripping surface.
Apparentley Tom is more concerned with its name
instead of saving peoples lives and cutting down
on accidents in that area.
- Posted by James R. from Cross Lanes | | | |
Yikes, Looks like a bee hive has been opened up.
Dan Keep up the fantastic work that you do, We,
the majority are thankful to have you doing what
you do best. God bless my friend
- Posted by Mr Thompkins from Charleston | | | |
The Eugene A. Carter Memorial Bridge.
The bridge and interchange has been around since 1975 when the Interstate 64 route into Charleston was completed.
Whereas, Eugene A. Carter was born in 1909 in Prudence, Fayette County. At the age of 17, he went to work for the New River Pocahontas Consolidated Coal Company, the same coal company that employed his father; and
Whereas, In 1934, during the Depression, Eugene A. Carter came to Charleston and began working as a driver for a local dairy company. He helped to form the first local Teamsters Union. In 1936, he was elected President of Teamsters Local 175 and served in that capacity until 1974; and
Whereas, In 1945, Eugene A. Carter was elected President of the West Virginia Federation of Labor and served in that capacity until the AFL State Federation and the CIO Industrial Union Council merged to form the West Virginia Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, in 1957; and
Whereas, The leadership and inspiration of Eugene A. Carter helped the AFL and the Teamsters to experience dramatic growth during his tenure. He truly dedicated his life for the betterment of West Virginia workers and serves as an inspiration to labor leaders who have followed him; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways name the I-64 bridge in Charleston, known as the Fort Hill Bridge, crossing the Kanawha River, the "Eugene A. Carter Memorial Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the "Eugene A. Carter Memorial Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation.
O.K. so what now we all know the History on this bridge, So whats your point Tom from Cross Lanes ?
Its still just a bridge and a DANGEROUS one at that. Get off of you Bottoms and do something about this Deadly Dangerous Bridge !
Sorry Dan I couldn't hold back.
- Posted by BILL Thaxton from Chas Wva | | | |
There are no plans to change the name of the bridge. The overlay work that is being done this summer at Little Sandy on I-79 may be installed on the bridge if it is successful. The bridge's Eugene A. Carter name is not in jeopardy.
- Posted by Dan R. from Charleston, WV | | | |
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