Police: Vehicle that wrecked off West Main Street exit had been traveling ‘at a high rate of speed’

BUCKHANNON – Two people who were transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital with possible injuries following a single-vehicle wreck on the West Main Street exit Monday have been treated and released.

The driver of a 2006 gray Mercury Milan, 32-year-old Shawn Watson, and a passenger, Shalina Simmons, were taken to the hospital by Upshur EMS following the wreck near the West Main Street exit onto Old Route 33.

The wreck occurred at 11:50 p.m. Monday, March 21, according to the wreck report filed by investigating officer Lt. Doug Loudin with the Buckhannon Police Department.

According to the report, Watson was driving the Mercury Milan, traveling east on the West Main Street exit at a high rate of speed when he lost control of his vehicle and struck the sidewalk on the east side of West Main Street. The vehicle went airborne and crashed into an embankment on the opposite side of the creek before impacting a billboard sign located beside the creek bed.

The report says a witness stated she was stopped at the stop sign waiting to turn right onto West Main Street and saw the vehicle come flying by at about 80 mph before going over the embankment.

Another witness told police that the Milan “came flying down the exit ramp” as she was turning right onto West Main Street and crossed the road, striking the sidewalk before going airborne and landing in the embankment.

Watson and passenger Shalina Simmons were transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital with non-incapacitating injuries by Upshur County EMS. As of Tuesday afternoon, Watson and Simmons had been treated and released, according to Lisa Wharton, vice president for marketing, communications and Foundation with St. Joseph’s Hospital.