More fatal overpass crashes in Charleston than homicides this year

WatchMore fatal overpass crashes in Charleston than homicides this yearby Joseph Cadotte

There have been more people who have died in crashes involving vehicles going over an interstate bridge in Charleston than there have been homicides in 2026.Comment on this story0CommentShare storySharetopics: CharlestonInterstateOverpassCrashFatalitiesSafetyWest VirginiaFriction treatmentCHARLESTON, W.VA. (WCHS) — There have been more people who have died in crashes involving vehicles going over an interstate bridge than there have been homicides in 2026.

The patchwork of black tread marks can be seen along both sides of the highway when outside northbound lanes of I-64 become eastbound on I-77 in Charleston.

"In the best of circumstances, you better have your head on a swivel going through there,” said Del. Dana Ferrell, R-Kanawha. “This is not your typical part of interstate. This is a very hazardous area at best and we know this. 100,000 vehicles are coming through that area every day and of that more than half of out-of-state or out-of-area drivers so they're not familiar with this."

Ferrell, who serves on the Joint Legislative Oversight Commission on Dept of Transportation Accountability, said highway safety in Charleston is personal.

"My daughter was nearly one of those and that's why I'm so invested in this right now and that was at the end of August and her and her boyfriend were traveling and this was not a speed, speeding issue, we know that she just got Life360 and they were bumped and knocked into the retaining wall on the Fort Hill bridge and nearly went into the Kanawha River."

There have been six people who’ve died this year in two crashes involving vehicles going over the I-64 and I-77 interstate merge split.

"Definitely gut wrenching you'd think if anybody would have to do that,” Ferrell said. “This isn't just a typical crash. These are horrible, over the Interstate and the one just this past week in a fiery crash. Those are just a horrific way to go."

State officials are talking about a variety of ideas to help make Charleston’s elevated roadways safer.

"Offensively you want to go after trying to reduce the speed and that would be flashing lights, more law enforcement in that area and maybe even reduce the speed limit from 60 down to 50. It's been suggested, rumble strips," Ferrell said.

Everything has been on the table from higher barriers to installing guardrails on top fo the current barriers and also netting like what is used in NASCAR races.

The West Virginia Department of Transportation said crews are going to start the process of installing high friction surface treatment on elevated roadways in Charleston as soon as next week. Ferrell said they will also be replacing and upgrading signage.