Crawford man killed in Route 20 South wreck Saturday afternoon

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BUCKHANNON – A 25-year-old Lewis County man was killed in a two-vehicle wreck on Route 20 South Saturday in Hinkleville.

Upshur County sheriff Virgil Miller said the fatal collision happened at about 1:30 p.m. June 25 when Brennen Phillips, of Crawford, was driving south on Route 20 in a 2005 Chevy Cobalt and crossed the center line, colliding head-on with a northbound 2002 C series flatbed farm truck loaded with hay.

Phillips had to be extricated from his vehicle by fire rescue personnel, and according to a press release issued by the sheriff’s office Monday, the driver of the farm truck, Calvin Brake, 69, of Rock Cave, suffered minor injuries. The wreck happened near the turnoff for Glady Fork Road.

“For some reason, Mr. Phillips went left of center and hit the farm truck head-on,” Miller said Monday morning. “Both vehicles were single occupant.”

Miller said Upshur sheriff’s deputy Dakota Linger responded, and the investigation is ongoing.

WVU Medicine St. Joseph's Hospital

“We don’t know [what may have caused Phillips to lose control],” Miller said. “We’re waiting on the autopsy report.”

In addition to Upshur EMS, the Buckhannon Fire Department, Adrian Volunteer Fire Department and Banks District Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene.

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Kelley Tierney
My Buckhannon

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