PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — A Mansfield man died in a West Virginia hospital early Saturday after he apparently tried to help passengers in a crashed Ford Ranger and then was struck by another vehicle.
According to Sergeant B.A. Pickens, of the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, the incident was reported at 1:34 a.m. on Saturday. Scott Banks, 52, was pronounced dead nearly two hours later at Marietta Memorial Hospital by the ER doctor.
Banks’ obituary was posted at Richland Source.com on Monday afternoon.
Pickens said the Ford Ranger, which contained two passengers, lost control on a bridge that had recently iced over.
“He (Banks) went out to see if they needed any help,” Pickens said.
Shortly after, a Dodge Durango holding seven passengers lost control and became airborne, ultimately slamming into the Ford Ranger and Banks. All but the driver of the Dodge Durango had been drinking, Pickens said.
“The driver had a suspended license and no insurance but wasn’t intoxicated,” he said.
No open containers were found in the vehicle.
The fatal crash is currently under investigation, Pickens said.
Worthington Creek Bridge, off Interstate 77, was covered by ice, Pickens said. The area had received a weather alert Friday for rain and snow.
“Everything went to crap around midnight. Bridges iced over …” he said.
Wood County Sheriff’s Office responded to 28 crashes in the area from 12 a.m. Friday to 12 p.m. on Saturday. By Saturday afternoon, temperatures had warmed to nearly 60 degrees Fahrenheit, he said.
Wappner Funeral Directors and Crematory on South Diamond Street will hold calling hours Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and a funeral service Thursday at 10 a.m.
According to Banks’ obituary, he graduated from Lucas High School and Pioneer Career and Technology Center in 1983. He was currently employed at Cowen Truck Line.
“Scott took every opportunity to help out others and touched the lives of many stranded motorists throughout his career. He would never leave someone stranded or alone and was an angel to those he helped. He felt it was his duty to protect others,” reads his obituary posted Monday at www.richlandsource.com.
