BUCKHANNON – A Buckhannon man was killed in a wreck at the intersection of Route 33 and Childers Run Thursday evening.
According to the accident report, John Goss, 79, of Buckhannon was driving a 2006 Toyota Avalon when he tried to cross Route 33 from Childers Run. As Goss entered the intersection, he pulled in front of a 2011 Chevy Traverse driven by Richard Norman, 72, of Buckhannon, who was traveling eastbound on Route 33.
Local fire departments, Upshur EMS and city police units were dispatched to the two-vehicle collision at approximately 6:09 p.m. Thursday. The accident report noted that Goss’s vehicle was coming from Childers Run and “failed to stop at the stop sign and was hit as it was crossing Route 33. [Norman’s vehicle] did have the right of way and was traveling eastbound at an appropriate speed.”
Goss was extricated and transported by ambulance, but passed away from his injuries later that evening. Drugs, alcohol and distracted driving were not factors in the wreck, according to the report, which was filed by Buckhannon Police Department patrolman Angel McCauley.
Thursday’s wreck is the latest of many at the deadly intersection. In April, My Buckhannon reported that the West Virginia Department of Highways plans to install stoplights at both the Childers Run and Kesling Mill intersections on Route 33 after receiving requests from both the city and county to improve safety along that stretch of road.
WVDOH District VII Engineer Brian Cooper said in an email at the time that the engineering and design work for both projects is slated to be completed this fall and construction could begin in spring of 2022.
