Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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September 4, 2010

Three die in crash

By GREG JORDAN Bluefield Daily Telegraph

PREMIER — Three McDowell County residents were killed early Friday afternoon on U.S. Route 52 when their vehicles met in a head-on collision.

John Tinney Jr., 25, of Davy was driving a 2010 Nissan Frontier south when he encountered a northbound 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee Larado driven by Barbara Crigger, 29, of Avondale. With her was Nancy Crigger, 58, and Patricia Stinson, 46, both of Avondale.

According to witnesses, Tinney “had been operating his vehicle in a very erratic manner,” said Deputy R. L. Blevins of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Department.

“He had been traveling south on 52, but he was actually almost off the road in the northbound lane,” Blevins said. “Ms. Crigger attempted to avoid him by steering to the left and almost at the same point Mr. Tinney veered to the right, causing a head-on collision.”

The first call about the crash arrived at McDowell County 911 at 12:10 p.m.

Tinney later died at Welch Community Hospital. Nancy Crigger and Patricia Stinson both died at the crash scene, Blevins said. Barbara Crigger was transported to Charleston Area Medical Center where she was listed in critical but stable condition.

The crash was still under investigation Friday.

Route 52 was closed for more than three hours while first responders investigated the crash and cleared the scene. Chief Field Deputy M.D. Shelton, Deputy L.T. Vaselaros, Deputy Dustin England, Deputy J.E. Munch, Deputy A.S. Epperson and Deputy J.A. Vance also worked at the scene. The Roderfield Volunteer Fire Department and the Welch Volunteer Fire Department were also dispatched.

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