Local man killed in collision

Police suspect that a medical condition may have been the cause of a one-vehicle accident that claimed the life of Robert Bland, 62, of Berkeley Springs on Tuesday, April 6.

Chief Deputy Tony Link said Bland’s ’86 Dodge pickup truck was traveling north on Potomac Road shortly after 4 p.m. when it ran off the left side of the road and struck several trees there. Bland was pronounced dead at the scene.

Link said there was extensive damage to the front of the truck, but there was no official determination if the collision killed Bland, or if he had suffered a significant medical event prior to the crash.
Police found no skid marks at the scene that would indicate Bland had swerved off the road to avoid an oncoming car or something else in the roadway.

Potomac Road was closed for close to an hour due to the crash. Deputy Kevin Barney is the investigating officer in the case. Also responding to the scene were Sheriff Vince Shambaugh, Chief Deputy Link, the Berkeley Springs Volunteer Fire Company and the Hancock Rescue Squad.