A morning motor vehicle accident in the 3000 block of Valley Road claimed the life of Little Orleans woman on Friday, June 20.
At 9:19 a.m., Morgan County 911 was alerted to the incident near Eddie’s Tire Service south of Berkeley Springs. The Morgan County Sheriff’s Department responded to the call, with Deputy Butts as investigating officer.
Sheriff Johnnie Walter said the driver of a Toyota Echo was declared deceased at the scene. She was identified as Theresa Messersmith, 57, of Little Orleans, Md.
According to police, a dashcam video and an accident reconstruction by Deputy Barker, Messersmith was traveling southbound on U.S. 522 when she turned into the parking lot of Eddie’s Tire Service, made a U-turn and quickly got back onto U.S. 522 heading northbound.
When Messersmith pulled out onto U.S. 522, police said she travelled immediately into the path of a northbound Warner tractor trailer, which struck her vehicle.
U.S. 522 was shut down for roughly two hours during the response to the fatal accident.
Berkeley Springs and Hancock fire departments assisted at the scene for traffic control.
