Logan County, WV — April 24, 2025, One person was killed and another was injured in a car accident around 1:45 P.M. on Route 10.

An investigation is underway following a car accident that left one person dead and injured another during the afternoon hours of April 24th. According to official reports, a GMC pickup truck was traveling on WV Route 10 directly in the path of an oncoming vehicle operated by Arnold Oney, resulting in a collision.

When first responders arrived on the scene, they found that Oney had sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased, while the driver of the pickup sustained serious injuries and they were transported to the hospital for treatment. At this time there has been no further information released from the accident, however this remains an ongoing investigation and more details may be released by authorities in the future.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When I read about a head-on collision that claims a life and leaves another person seriously injured, it’s clear that a simple explanation won’t be enough. Crashes like this demand a closer look, guided by three critical questions: Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? And has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?

First, the investigation itself. Thorough investigations aren’t something that can be assumed just because officials responded to the scene. Departments across the country vary greatly in how much time, training, and resources they can devote to accident investigations. A complete investigation into a head-on collision should involve a full accident reconstruction, detailed analysis of the roadway, documentation of skid marks or lack thereof, and interviews with any witnesses. Without that depth of investigation, we’re left with surface-level explanations that may miss underlying causes—such as whether the pickup was pushed into the wrong lane by a mechanical issue or environmental factor.

Second, there’s the question of vehicle defects. Head-on collisions often get chalked up to driver error, but mechanical failures aren’t as rare as people think. Was there a failure in the steering or braking system of the pickup truck? Could a suspension defect have caused the vehicle to veer unexpectedly into oncoming traffic? Vehicle defects generally require a forensic examination of the vehicle—something that isn’t a standard part of most crash investigations unless someone insists on it. If the vehicles are moved, repaired, or scrapped too soon, any evidence pointing to a defect may be permanently lost.

Finally, we have to ask whether all the electronic data has been gathered and preserved. Modern vehicles, including pickup trucks like the GMC involved here, often have engine control modules that record critical data—speed, throttle position, steering inputs, and braking in the moments before a crash. In addition, dash cams, traffic cameras, or cell phone data might offer independent evidence about how the crash unfolded. However, if this information isn’t secured quickly, it can easily be overwritten, lost, or deleted, making it much harder to piece together what actually happened.

One person has lost their life, and another has been seriously injured. When that happens, we owe it to everyone affected to go beyond surface-level answers. Only by making sure the crash was fully investigated, that mechanical issues have been ruled out, and that all available electronic evidence has been preserved can we truly understand what caused this collision—and take steps to prevent others like it in the future.