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W. VA safety officials want runaway truck ramps installed after semi truck nearly takes out construction crew, line of stopped cars

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West Virginia safety officials are seeking options after a runaway semi truck avoids mass casualty on the Seneca Skyway. 

The accident happened on Route 33, or Allegheny Dr., in Pendleton County, West Virginia  just after noon on Thursday, October 5th. 

According to 5 News, the semi truck was traveling east when it lost its brakes. The rig then plowed through a construction zone, hit two pieces of construction equipment, and narrowly missed a line of vehicles stopped at a construction site stop light that were given the green light just before they were hit. 

Pendleton County Emergency Services Coordinator Rick Gillespie says that at least one construction worker had to run for his life, and believes that the incident was very close to being a mass casualty event. 

The truck driver was flown to a nearby hospital. His current condition is not known. 

Gillespie says that there are no runaway truck ramps in the area, and hopes to meet with Gov. Justice to discuss the possibility of adding safety features to prevent tragedies in the future. 

The construction workers were working on reinforced guardrails at the time of the accident. 

 “This section of road has a historically high crash rate,” said Jason Foster, WVDOH Chief Engineer of Development. “We’re trying to reduce those crashes by installing a barrier.”

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