Update (April 15, 2025): Authorities have identified the worker who was killed in this accident as James Harper, 23, of Beckley. He was patching a hole in the highway at the time of the crash. The driver who hit him has been charged with vehicular manslaughter, according to authorities.

Kanawha County, WV — April 14, 2025, one person was killed in a truck accident on southbound Interstate 77/West Virginia Turnpike.

Authorities said a construction worker was hit by a semi-truck near mile marker 92.5.

The worker, whose name has not been made public, died after the crash, according to authorities.

Authorities have not released any additional information about Kanawha County crash, which shut down all southbound lanes of the turnpike. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a construction worker is struck and killed by a semi-truck in an active work zone, especially on a major route like the West Virginia Turnpike, the legal questions start with a basic one: Was the driver operating the truck with the level of caution the law requires in a construction zone? Because when someone is working just feet from live traffic, the expectation isn’t just ordinary care—: it’s heightened vigilance.

At this stage, the exact circumstances aren’t public, but we know the crash happened near a work area and involved a commercial truck. In my experience, that’s usually a sign that the investigation needs to focus on speed, situational awareness and adherence to posted signage. Commercial drivers are required to reduce speed and proceed with extreme caution in work zones. If that didn’t happen, then the question becomes not just whether the crash was avoidable, but how many opportunities were missed to prevent it.

Investigators should start by reviewing the semi-truck’s engine control module to determine how fast it was going, whether the brakes were applied before the crash and what kind of steering or throttle inputs the driver made. If there's dashcam footage, that could provide further insight into how clearly marked the work zone was, what the worker was doing at the time and whether the driver had time to react.

Another layer to examine is whether the work zone itself was set up according to proper safety standards. Were there advance warning signs? Were cones or barriers in place to create a buffer between workers and traffic? If any part of the setup failed to provide adequate protection or notice, that could play a role in the legal assessment of fault.

But even with those questions on the table, the responsibility placed on commercial drivers in these situations is substantial. The rules are clear: slow down, stay alert and expect the unexpected in a work zone. That’s not optional: it’s the standard that professionals are expected to meet every time they pass through one of these areas.

Ultimately, a worker lost their life doing a job that already carries more risk than most. The goal of this investigation should be to determine whether the systems in place — training, signage, vehicle safety and driver behavior — worked as they were supposed to. And if they didn’t, then the law needs to figure out where those failures happened and who is responsible for them. Because no one working to improve the road should have to pay for that work with their life.