The West Virginia State Police are investigating a police chase in Putnam County that killed a Kanawha County strawberry farmer.
“On Thursday, March 5, 2026, at approximately 3:06 p.m., a pursuit initiated by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department ended in a fatal vehicle crash on Interstate 64 eastbound near Hurricane, West Virginia,” a state police press release says. “Members of the Winfield Detachment are investigating the fatal crash.”
The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports that Angela Born, 52, was killed when she was struck from behind by Joseph Elswick, 23, who was fleeing from police after his grandmother called 911, saying he had stolen her car and purse.
Born owned Country Road House and Berries, the newspaper reported.
“Members of the West Virginia State Police Crash Reconstruction Team were called to assist with the investigation,” the state police release stated. “This investigation remains active, and no further information is available at this time.”
