RIPPON, W.Va. — A woman working flag operations at the work zone on Route 340 South in Jefferson County was killed Thursday after another woman allegedly drove around a vehicle that had stopped in the work zone and ran over her.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Lt. RS Sell tells The Panhandle News Network that Kathy Ruth, 62, of Mount Hope, had stopped traffic and was standing on the west shoulder of Route 340 around 10:30 a.m. Thursday when a a 2012 Lexus RX350 operated by Kiren Ward, age 37, of Harpers Ferry, reportedly drove around the first vehicle stopped in the line and struck Ruth.
When Ward’s vehicle came to a stop, the flagger was under her car, authorities said.
Witnesses to the crash attempted to lift the car to help move Ms. Ruth prior to rescue personnel arrival. Fire and Rescue completed the task of moving Ruth from under the vehicle and transported her to Jefferson Medical Center where she was pronounced dead, according to the sheriff’s office.
The incident happened in the work zone in the area of mile marker 1 “just north of the intersection with Lewisville Road,” according to Lt. Sell.
That work zone had been in place since Monday, March 25th and the sheriff’s department reports road signs were in place ahead of the accident scene warning motorists regarding road work, one lane ahead and flagger signs for traffic going south bound from the Rippon area towards the state line.
The roadway was closed for more than two hours to allow for investigation and documentation of the crash. Traffic was diverted to side roads and Clarke County, Va assisted at the state line. The investigation is still ongoing at this time, according to Sell.
Responding to the scene along with the Sheriff’s Office were Citizens Fire Company, Independent Fire Company and Jefferson County Emergency Services Agency.