Truck traffic is a constant on I-79 and US-50 through Harrison County. Anyone who drives those routes regularly has seen how heavy it gets, especially near the Bridgeport interchange and along US-19 toward Fairmont. West of Clarksburg, US-50 runs through steeper grades and tighter curves, where loaded trucks are more likely to lose control.
The causes behind these crashes are not hard to identify. FMCSA data points to hours-of-service violations, maintenance problems, and driver inattention. Those same issues show up locally. The weather makes it worse. Ice forms quickly on I-79 and US-50, increasing stopping distance for heavier vehicles.
NHTSA reported 5,788 large-truck fatalities nationwide in 2022, and West Virginia recorded 18 that year. I-79 and US-50 appear repeatedly in those reports. The risk is not spread evenly. It shows up in the same corridors, and cases tied to those routes often involve federal regulations that need to be reviewed closely.