HURRICANE, W.Va. — Putnam County Sheriff Bobby Eggleton says the woman who died in a fiery crash on Interstate 64 near Hurricane Thursday afternoon was the victim of a senseless tragedy.
Eggleton said Angela McFarland Born did not survive the collision.
“This is a tragedy. Mrs. Born, driving down the road minding her own business and is struck by someone running from police,” Eggleton said.
Joseph Elswick, 23, of Putnam County, is charged with vehicular homicide and fleeing police. Eggleton said he had stolen a car a few minutes earlier and wouldn’t stop when spotted by deputies.
“We will continue to investigate and charge whatever possible to make sure that Mr. Elswick pays for his crime because he alone is responsible for this,” Eggleton said.
Born grew up in St. Albans. Eggleton said the McFarland family (Born’s maiden name) is well-known. Eggleton said Born was also well-known in the Elk River community where she and her husband settled. The couple has six children.
“Angela was known for her strawberries, her strawberry farm and many other things, just the salt of the earth,” Eggleton said.
She and her husband owned Country Road House and Berries Bed Breakfast in Clendenin including a farm where visitors could pick their own strawberries.
Eggleton said Elswick is also well-known but for the wrong reasons.
“He’s known to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office but not for anything good,” Eggleton said.
Elswick tried to plead guilty during his arraignment in Putnam County Magistrate Court Thursday night. The magistrate first asked him he wanted to apply for a court-appointed attorney. He said he didn’t.
The magistrate asked, “You don’t want to apply for a court-appointed attorney?”
Elswick said, “I just plead guilty.”
“You can’t do that here,” the magistrate said.
Elswick is being held in the Western Regional Jail on $500,000 cash-only bail.