First responders in Bridgeport had what turned out to be a busy and unfortunate day as crews dealt with multiple wrecks on Interstate 79 this afternoon, according to Bridgeport Fire Chief Phil Hart.

 

Hart said one of the accidents, which took place early in the afternoon, resulted in a fatality. The accident involved what Hart described as a small pickup truck that saw the male driver killed.

 

“He was dead upon arrival,” said Hart. “The individual in question was ejected from the vehicle.”

 

The call came into the Harrison County 911 center at 1:12 p.m. The accident took place on the northbound side of I-79.

 

“The vehicle was traveling northbound, went through the median and ended up in the southbound lane,” said Hart.

 

The area in question was around mile marker 122. Hart said it is the area between the Meadowbrook Mall and the rest areas.

 

The accident led to backups on the interstate. Hart said the West Virginia Division of Highways handled traffic control. The Bridgeport Police Department, he said, is investigating the accident. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, the State Police and the State Medical Examiner were also on the scene.

 

Another accident took place just after 3 p.m. This one involved three vehicles near the 127-mile marker of I-79’s southbound lane.

 

“One person was transported,” said Hart. “The other two drivers refused transport.”

 

Hart said the vehicles were likely all total losses as they all had to be towed from the scene. Two of the vehicles ended up off the roadway as a result of the wreck, while the third vehicle was on the roadway on and on its top.

 

The investigation of this wreck was being handled by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department. Along with Bridgeport Fire, Anmoore was also on the scene.

 

Hart said traffic has been backed up for a large portion of the afternoon as the result of the wrecks on the interstate as well as feeder routes such as Route 131. He said several other accidents have resulted, primarily cars getting rear ended, from the traffic.

 

“Traffic is bad in spots right now. We are asking people to be careful and cautious,” said Hart at 4:25 p.m.