Three men, including a police officer, died in separate traffic accidents across West Virginia during the weekend.
Investigators said Shawn Wellman, 32, a Welch police officer, was killed Friday night in an ATV accident on Belcher Mountain in McDowell County. Wellman was believed to have crashed after trying to avoid a dog.
He was airlifted to CAMC early Saturday morning but died later of his injuries.
Gillespie had worked for the city of Welch as well as a McDowell County deputy during his law enforcement career.
A Harrison County man was killed after crashing his motorcycle on Interstate-79 in Marion County Saturday night. The accident happened near the 137-mile marker in the southbound lane. The victim, identified as 51-year-old Roger Ford, of Good Hope, was pronounced dead a short time after the accident. Police said he was wearing a helmet.
A motorcyclist in Cabell County died on Sunday afternoon. Police said he was crossing the 31st Street Bridge in Huntington when he lost control, struck the bridge wall and flew over the side, landing in brush below. The victim’s name has not been released.