An early morning collision involving a golf cart and a car in Jackson County resulted in the death of an off-duty police officer and left two others injured. According to WBNS, the Ohio State Highway Patrol reported that the crash occurred around 2 a.m. yesterday on South Pennsylvania Avenue near the intersection of Sixth Street in Wellston.
The golf cart, registered and heading south, was struck from behind by a 2014 Hyundai, which led to it careening off the road and hitting a tree. The tragic crash claimed the life of 25-year-old Matthew Juniper of Wellston, who was riding as a passenger in the golf cart. Per WSAZ, Juniper and the driver of the golf cart, Brant Darrow, were both identified as off-duty officers with the Wellston Police Department at the time of the incident.
Following the crash, Juniper was taken to Holzer Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries, while Darrow was airlifted with serious injuries to Cabell Huntington Hospital in West Virginia. The juvenile driver of the Hyundai sustained minor injuries. WCHS reported that multiple agencies, including the Ohio State Highway Patrol Crash Reconstruction Unit and local emergency services, responded to the scene.
The thoroughfare was closed for nearly six hours as authorities conducted an on-site investigation. While the roadways have since been reopened, the circumstances surrounding the crash are still under investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. It remains unclear what factors may have contributed to the collision or the current condition of the driver of the Hyundai. Residents and the broader law enforcement community await further details as the investigation continues.
