WINFIELD, W.Va. — A victim of a suicide/car wreck in Putnam County suffered from post traumatic stress disorder. That’s the word from Putnam County Sheriff Bobby Eggleton.
The victim, whose names wasn’t released, died Friday when he fled a deputy at the Hurricane exit, reversed directions at the Teays Valley exit on I-64, and crashed soon after heading west bound on the interstate.
“For an unknown reason he wrecked, upon further investigation it was determined he had shot himself while driving down the road,” the sheriff explained.
The deputy pulled over the man for speeding and noticed drug paraphernalia in the car. He asked a woman in the car, who was the man’s fiancé, to step out. She did, but the driver fled.
“This individual was a previously discharged Marine. Later on we discerned he suffered from PTSD and had some psychological issues and it got the best of him there for no apparent reason,” said Eggleton.
The woman, who faced no charges, told authorities they were from Florida and had been to Kentucky for her to reconnect with her father. They were on their way home and had stopped at a vape shop just before they were pulled over.
“Just a terrible, terrible tragedy that something like this would happen. If you get pulled over, talk to us. Our deputies are very compassionate, especially to veterans, talk to us and let’s talk through these things without having such a drastic outcome,” said Eggleton.