PARKERSBURG - Two adults and two children died early Sunday evening in a two-vehicle accident along West Virginia 21 near Mineral Wells.
A 2004 Ford driven by Darin Affolter, 41, of 1123 Left Fork Buck Run Road, Mineral Wells, was traveling north on W.Va. 21 while a 2001 Chevrolet driven by Carrie Cunningham, 27, of 83 Post Mill Way, Apt. 407, Mineral Wells, was heading south, said Deputy B.A. Pickens with the Wood County Sheriff's Department.
Cunningham was entering a sharp lefthand bend in the road when the vehicle began to rotate counter-clockwise and crossed over into the northbound lane, Pickens said. Affolter reacted and tried to steer to the left to avoid the crash and struck the vehicle on the passenger side.
Carrie Cunningham, as well as Michael Cunningham, 38; Haley Myers, 7; and Addison Myers, 4, were all pronounced dead at the scene. The relationship of the deceased was not immediately clear.
The driver was not wearing a seatbelt, while Michael Cunningham was. The two children in back were both in booster seats and secured by lap and shoulder belts.
Pickens said it appears rain did not influence the accident as that area received a light sprinkling at the time. He attributes the accident to extensive wear on the tires on the Cunningham vehicle.
Traffic was diverted around the scene while the accident was being investigated.
Affolter received minor injuries and was taken to Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital to be examined. He was in good condition at the hospital and was still being evaluated at 10 p.m., a hospital spokesman said.
No citations were issued.
