Three people died and a fourth was injured in two wrecks that happened minutes apart on Interstate 64 on Sandstone Mountain.
West Virginia State Police said the initial crash occurred in the eastbound lane of Interstate 64 at the 136 and 137 mile markers, in Raleigh County, at about 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Wesley C. Lester, 44, rear-ended another vehicle, causing that vehicle to lose control and flip multiple times over an embankment, according to a news release. The driver of the struck vehicle, Julia F. James, 56, of Lexington, Kentucky, was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. James' passenger, Delores M. Facemire, 61, also of Lexington, was taken to Charleston Area Medical Center's General Hospital.
Lester's vehicle continued eastbound to the 137 mile marker, where he lost control and flipped over an embankment multiple times, according to the release. He and his passenger, Brenda Lester, 45, both of Brenton, were pronounced dead at the scene.
The crashes are being reconstructed and remain under investigation by the West Virginia State Police.