West Virginia police are investigating the death of a truck driver who was reported missing under unusual circumstances late last month.
On Saturday, June 8, authorities discovered the body of 61 year old truck driver and Tunnelton resident Philip “Buckie” Barlow near Fortney’s Mill, West Virginia. The cause of Barlow’s death has not yet been released.
Barlow was reported missing after he failed to show up for work at Hillside Trucking at 1 a.m. on May 29.
Barlow spoke to his girlfriend around 11:30 p.m. on May 28 before leaving for work. She said that Barlow is a creature of habit and that it was highly unusual for him not to show up for work.
Hillside Trucking wrote in a Facebook post about Barlow’s disappearance:
Philip talked to his girlfriend on the phone before leaving for work around 11:30 pm. He was getting his bucket packed and water jug filled. He arrives for work around 12:15 am to 12:45 am every work day. He always liked to be the first truck, so he left early.
He did not show for work.
Hillside Trucking also said that “[Barlow’s] pickup was seen on camera footage being followed by a white pickup truck.”
Barlow’s pickup truck was discovered around 7 a.m. on May 29 on Shower Bath Road. The vehicle was on fire when it was discovered.
According to local police, “what is known, he was spoken to at 11:30 p.m., his phone was pinged at 12:01 a.m. one-quarter mile from his house, phone pinged again at 12:29 a.m. around the Dollar General Store in Tunnelton never to ping again.”
The Preston County Sheriff’s Office is now asking the public for surveillance footage from the area to try to determine what happened to Barlow:
“The Preston County Sheriff’s Office is requesting anyone with security camera footage of a roadway south of Veterans Memorial Highway (WV Rt. 7) and west of River Road (WV Rt. 72) from May 28th and May 29th retain that footage and contact the sheriff’s office; even if you don’t believe the video system captured anything,.”
Anyone with information on Barlow’s disappearance and death is asked to call Preston County Sheriff’s Department at 304-329-1611 and ask for Captain Travis N. Tichnell or DFC Ryan L. Powley.