W.Va. woman killed in crash

June 06, 2006|by DAVE McMILLION

MARTINSBURG, W.VA.

A 50-year-old Berkeley County, W.Va., woman died Monday afternoon when the car she was driving collided head-on with a garbage truck, a Berkeley County Sheriff's Department spokesman said.

Susan M. Puffinberger, of Dew Drop Lane, Hedgesville, W.Va., was pronounced dead at the scene after the garbage truck went up over the car about six feet, Deputy S.D. Myers said.

Puffinberger was driving a 1996 Pontiac Sunfire on Winchester Avenue south of Martinsburg when the car went left of center near Novak Drive and collided head-on with a Waste Management garbage truck, police said.

Puffinberger's car was dragged about 43 feet after impact, Myers said.

It took rescue crews about 45 minutes to free Puffinberger from the wreckage, and traffic was routed around the scene for about two hours, police said.

Myers said it is unclear why Puffinberger's car went into the garbage truck's lane of travel.

"She was completely into the left-hand lane," Myers said.

Myers said some of Puffinberger's family members said she was on her way to pick up her son at Brentwood Industries to take him to lunch.

Puffinberger was traveling south on Winchester Avenue, which becomes U.S. 11, and apparently crossed the center line a short distance north of Novak Drive about 12:13 p.m., Myers said.

The driver of the Waste Management truck was not hurt, Myers said.

Puffinberger's body was taken to Brown Funeral Home, Myers said.

Police said Monday afternoon that it would be determined later whether an autopsy will be performed.

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