SHARON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Parkways Authority says it “takes full responsibility” for what happened Thursday night that caused several thousand motorists to spend the night in what turned out to be a four-lane parking lot.
A torrential downpour occurred not far from the Sharon exit in Kanawha County Thursday night causing water, mud and debris to come off the hillside which settled in the northbound lanes and against the median wall. Traffic was stopped at around 9:15 and remained that way until around 5:15 a.m. Friday. It took several more minutes to wake-up a few drivers who were sleeping in their vehicles.
The northbound traffic back up exceeded 12 miles, highway officials said.
Recently appointed Parkways Authority Executive Director Chuck Smith issued a statement Friday afternoon that said mistakes were made in the response to the mudslide.
“Traffic should have been detoured to allow drivers an alternate route around the mudslide,” Smith said.
The mudslide blocked a 60-inch storm drain that kept standing water in the northbound lanes.
“We are grateful that there were no injuries as a result of the flooding and traffic stoppage,” Smith said. “The Parkways Authority takes full responsibility for the failure to reroute traffic, and would like to assure the public that this will never happen again. At the direction of Governor Patrick Morrisey, the Parkways Authority is already examining and revising its policies on Turnpike closures and detours as a result of this incident.”
Morrisey briefly addressed the controversy during a media briefing Friday morning in Fairmont.
“We’re going to get to the bottom of everything I can tell you that,” Morrisey said.
Former state Senate President Mitch Carmichael was one of those stuck in traffic for hours. He said there was very little information for waiting motorists. He said the state must do better.
“We should expect more. We should expect immediate response and great information,” Carmichael said Friday on MetroNews “Talkline.”
Morrisey said the top priority was getting the Turnpike’s northbound lanes fully open.
“Most importantly we have to make sure that road is fully passable,” Morrisey said. “It was hit pretty hard by multiple feet of water.”
Morrisey did call the long wait that motorists had to endure “unacceptable.”
“I’m not happy when I look and see people sitting there….we’ll get to the bottom of it and report back to you,” Morrisey said.
What happened last night on the turnpike was completely unacceptable. I have directed the Parkways Authority to immediately conduct an investigation and revise its procedures as necessary as a result of this incident.
My administration will get to the bottom of this and ensure… https://t.co/8BQRYowSdY
— Governor Patrick Morrisey (@wvgovernor) June 27, 2025
Carmichael said Thursday night’s event combined with a 2009 snow event that kept some motorists trapped for 20 hours should prompt legislative involvement to look at the West Virginia Parkways Authority’s emergency plans.
“The legislature should convene a panel to receive some testimony and review some of those plans. It’s better to now be reactive,” Carmichael said.
The Parkways Authority did install several emergency turnaround gates and approve emergency routes following the 2009 storm.
Carmichael said he’s confident Morrisey and Smith will make the neeed improvements.
“Governor Morrisey appointed him and I’m sure they’ll get these issues straightened out but it does send a terrible message when you have to spend the night, eight hours, eight hours, shutting down the northbound lanes. It’s ridiculous,” Carmichael said.