Name and cause of tractor-trailer crash released, after driver dies in the Ohio River

WELLSBURG, W.Va. (WTRF) — The name and cause of a tractor-trailer crash in the northern panhandle have been released after a driver died crashing into the Ohio River.

Officials said that 62-year-old Gerald Lee Davis Jr. died after his brakes went out in his truck, causing him to crash the truck into the Ohio River in Wellsburg, West Virginia.

Wellsburg Police Chief Mike Allman said that Davis Jr was being escorted while he was coming downhill on Washington Pike.

Allman said that he communicated with the driver’s escorts, who said that the driver lost his brakes. Officials said this happened about a half-mile before Route 2 and 10th Street.

Officials said the escort vehicle in front pulled to the side and away from the truck’s path while coming down Washington Pike and that Davis Jr. had the green light when he was coming onto Route 2.

Allman said the truck continued at a high rate of speed before going into the Ohio River, but the driver maintained the tractor-trailer well, keeping it away from other vehicles, pedestrians and buildings.

Davis. Jr was pulled from the Ohio River while inside the cab.

The truck was carrying materials and equipment from a natural gas operation in Smithton, Pa., and was headed to St. Johns Road in Colliers.

Davis Jr. was 62 years old.

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Officials say at about 9am on Friday they responded to a tractor-trailer in the Ohio River.

According to officials on the scene one person has died from the crash.

The trucker was coming down Washington Pike and was going through town in Wellsburg at a high rate of speed and turned down 10th street, ending up in the Ohio River, according to officials.

Those on scene do not know what went wrong at this time.

Officials say they do not have an identification at this time, and the body will be taken to the medical examiner.

The body was found inside the tractor-trailer, and officials say the tractor-trailer was 18 feet into the river and 15-20 feet from the shore. The body was recovered 2 hours after the incident.

The 18-wheeler was a specialty truck that hauled heavy loads.

There is no timeline of when the truck will be pulled out of the Ohio River, because officials say the towing company needs to bring in their dive team and assess the environmental safety.

On the scene were Wellsburg, Franklin, Wheeling Fire and Recovery, and Weirton Fire and Dive.

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Officials say a tractor-trailer went into the Ohio River while a person was driving the vehicle.

The incident happened near 10th and Main Street in Brooke County, Wellsburg, West Virginia.

Multiple emergency crews are on the scene to assist.

No other information was given at this time.

7News is on the scene working to get more information.