Two killed in crash that followed altercation

WHEELING - An argument between two motorists led to the death oftwo people on Interstate 70 Saturday near The Highlands shoppingcomplex.

The crash involving three vehicles near the end of the I-70westbound on-ramp near the shopping site also resulted in two otherpassengers being injured.

Justin Wright, 20, of Toronto, a town north of Weirton, andBrittney Lynn Kusic, 26, of Weirton both died as a result of thecrash that occurred about 9:45 a.m. Both were transported toWheeling Hospital where they were pronounced dead, said Valley GroveFire Chief Bob Young.

At press time, Steven Carpenter, 20, of Toronto was listed incritical condition at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, andAshley Wright, 20, of Toronto was listed in fair condition at OhioValley Medical Center in Wheeling.

West Virginia State Police Sgt. Scott Adams said an altercationhappened on the roadway between Justin Wright, who was driving aFord Ranger, and another man - David Hancher Palmer, 22, of Rayland.

Palmer was driving a 1992 Chevy Beretta. Both were driving whenthe argument occurred.

Justin Wright's passengers included Kusic, Ashley Wright andCarpenter.

"At some point the vehicles collided with one another, Palmer'svehicle collided with Wright's vehicle. That collision sent thetruck that Wright was driving into the westbound lanes of I-70 whereit was struck by a tractor-trailer that was also going westbound,"Adams said.

Adams said Palmer turned himself in to the Wheeling State Policebarracks two hours after the crash. Adams then placed Palmer underarrest.

"They knew each other. They were friends in the past, but in thepast month they hadn't been getting along," Adams said of JustinWright and Palmer.

At press time, Palmer was being arraigned on a $50,000 cash-onlybond and was lodged in the Northern Regional Jail. He is chargedwith four counts of malicious assault, leaving the scene of anaccident and driving with a suspended license.

A team of West Virginia State Police, with the assistance of theWest Virginia Division of Highways, closed the on-ramp for a shorttime Saturday evening to reconstruct the crash. The Ohio CountySheriff's Department also responded, in addition to Valley Grove,Triadelphia, Wheeling and Stone Church fire departments.

Staff Writer Shelley Hanson contributed to this report.