THOMAS, W.Va. — An Elkins man and two young children died early Wednesday morning in a two-vehicle crash in Tucker County.
Troopers said Joshua Lee Watson, 20, of Elkins, was heading south on U.S. Route 219 near Thomas as 5:10 a.m. when he went left of the center line and struck a large service truck that was traveling north.
Investigators said Watson may have fallen asleep and then tried to correct his vehicle before the collision.
The truck struck the car in the side.
Troopers said Watson was killed along with a girl, age 8, and her brother, age 7. State Police said the man was the boyfriend of the mother 29-year-old April Miller of Elkins. Miller and a third child, age 6, were taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital and are in critical condition.
State Troopers said the family was returning from a funeral of the children’s grandfather in Maryland.
The driver and the truck and two passengers were not injured.