Jaynell Graham
Editor
According to the Criminal Complaint filed in Pocahontas County Magistrate Court:
On Monday evening, April 10, at approximately 6 p.m., Cpl. D. M. Brock, of the West Virginia State Police – Marlinton Detachment, responded to a multi-vehicle crash at the intersection of US Rt. 219 and Rt. 150 (Highland Scenic Highway).
Brock stated that he arrived on the scene and observed that a 1984 Peterbilt (dump truck) had overturned on top of a 2022 Chevrolet Bolt.
EMS crews on-scene pronounced both the driver of the Bolt and the front seat passenger to be deceased.
Tony Alan Garretson, the driver of the dump truck, stated that he was unable to get the truck to stop and traveled through a stop sign.
Sgt. W. S. Snyder, Commander of the WVSP – Marlinton Detachment, spoke with Garretson and noted that he displayed signs of impairment in the following ways: a faint odor of alcohol, pinpoint pupils and glassy eyes.
Garretson was taken from the scene to Pocahontas Memorial Hospital Emergency Department where he consented to a blood draw.
On Wednesday, April 12, Cpl. Brock obtained a search warrant for Garretson’s medical records. This search warrant was executed at PMH on the same date.
Upon review of the medical records, Cpl. Brock identified positive results of amphetamines and methamphetamine to be present in Garretson’s blood.
Garretson, 52, of Marlinton, was arraigned in Pocahontas County Magistrate Court April 12, on two counts DUI causing death. He was released on $40,000 cash/ property/surety bond.
– – –
The accident victims were identified as Darren Jackson, 57, and his son, Ryan, 30.