CHARLESTON, W.Va. — An out-of-control pick up truck driver was killed Friday in Charleston after plunging into the Elk River.
Authorities said Jason Alexander Leadmon, 41, of Clendenin, was heading east on Lee Street when he tried to avoid the intersection at Pennsylvania Avenue, crossed the parking lot that sits underneath Interstate 64, struck several cars, then ended up in the river at around 10 a.m.
“When we arrived, we noticed bubbles actually coming from the river,” said Mark Kinder, the traffic commander of the Charleston Police Department. “At that time, we had several of our officers go ahead and get in the river to try to rescue him prior to the fire department arriving on scene.”
Leadmon was in the water for nearly 18 minutes before officers were able to pull him out. He was then tranported to CAMC General where he later died from his injuries.
Police said the two out of the four officers that rescued Leadmon were also taken to the hospital where each showed some initial signs of hypothermia from being in the cold water, but said they will be fine.
“It was really scary,” said Matthew Mullins, of Charleston, who was the driver of one of the cars that were hit.
Mullins was headed home with his mother Dawn Mullins who was the passenger. He said after he made a left hand turn onto Pennsylvania Ave., a blue Chevy truck came cutting across the lot and hit the front bumper of their car without slowing down.
“He just kept the same speed. He must have been going 35 or 40 miles an hour,” he said. “I just really hope the guy is alright. It all just happened so fast.”
Others involved in the crash received minor injuries and were treated at the scene.
Pennsylvania Avenue between Lee Street West and Washington Street West reopened just after 2:30 p.m. after being shutdown for several hours.
No word on what caused the accident.