2007 Ford Van of Allen Dale Gurley

RIPLEY — Two traffic accidents occurred on Interstate 77 near Fairplain within half an hour of each other on Oct. 28.

The first crash took place at approximately 5:30 p.m. Tuesday evening. Allen Dale Gurley, 55, of Dunbar was headed southbound on I-77 in a white 2007 Ford van when he ran off the right side of the road and struck the embankment, where his vehicle went airborne and then landed upright. In a statement to police, Gurley said that he had swerved to avoid hitting a deer.

The second collision happened shortly before 6 p.m. Jason Michael Ward, 33, of Scott Depot was traveling south in a white 2007 Chevrolet pickup when he slowed down due to the wreck caused by Gurley’s van. Ward was then struck from behind by a white 1999 Ford pickup driven by Paul L. Shaffer II, 49, of Cross Lanes, forcing both vehicles into the highway median. Shaffer said that he was drowsy and had been unable to react in time to avoid Ward’s truck.

The result of the second collision

Police, firefighters, and EMS personnel responded to both crashes. Gurley was transported by paramedics to Jackson General Hospital to be treated for his injuries; according to the police report, his air bag did not deploy. Neither Ward nor Shaffer was hurt in the accident.

story by Stephen Hill (shill@jccitizen.com)

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