By CLYDE FORD
Staff Writer
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A 19-year-old Martinsburg man died in a two-vehicle accident on rain-slick Grapevine Road Friday afternoon, West Virginia State Police reported.
Kenneth Newcomb was traveling north on Grapevine Road about two miles north of W.Va. 9 outside of Martinsburg, said Trooper M.R. Durst.
He was driving a 1987 Dodge pickup truck up the crest of a slight hill when he apparently lost control of the vehicle and started to slide sideways, Durst said.
Newcomb managed to get the vehicle straight again on the two-lane road, but was in the wrong lane in the path of a Federal Express delivery truck, Durst said.
The delivery driver, Ted Korzeniowski, of Greencastle, Pa., had not seen the truck coming because of the crest of the hill until it was too late, Durst said.
The two vehicles collided slightly off-center from a head-on collision, Durst said.
Korzeniowski, Newcomb and Newcomb's passenger, Travis Green, 15, of Inwood, W.Va., were trapped in the wrecked vehicles, Durst said.
Truck passenger Gary Newcomb, 12, of Martinsburg, was thrown out of the truck by the impact, Durst said.
Green had a cut over his left eye and broke his right arm in two places, Durst said.
Green was listed in good condition Friday night.
Gary Newcomb was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital with numerous injuries, Durst said.
He was listed in serious condition Friday night, a hospital official said.
Korzeniowski was treated at City Hospital and released, Durst said.
None of the occupants of the pickup were wearing seatbelts, Durst said. Korzeniowski was buckled up, he said.
Kenneth Newcomb had been traveling about 35 to 40 mph at the time of the accident, Durst said.
The roadway was wet from an earlier rain, he said.
"All of the circumstances were in place for a fatal accident," Durst said.
