Vehicle Accident Results in Death, Arrest in Region
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on July 21, 2026
According to WDTV, one person is dead after a two?vehicle crash Monday afternoon on Wilderness Highway in Nicholas County.
Authorities say the wreck happened just before 1:30 p.m. Monday in the 2000 block of Wilderness Highway, also known as West Virginia Route 41.
Ralph Martin was travelling southbound on the Wilderness Highway when authorities say Harley Webb was pulling out of his driveway in a “reckless manner,” striking Martin.
Martin died due to his injuries, authorities say.
Authorities say that Webb fled the scene. Deputies caught up to Webb in Summersville, West Virginia.
Webb has been taken into custody and charged with violating Erin’s Law, which is leaving the scene of a crash when it is reasonable to believe the other party has suffered physical injury.
The Wilderness Fire Department and the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched, with Summersville and Wilderness Fire Department called in because of reports of entrapment.
No other injuries were reported.
Troopers closed Route 41 for more than two hours while emergency crews worked the scene and cleared the vehicles.
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