Charleston man was DUI, caused collision that killed driver in Ritchie County, deputies say

HARRISVILLE, W.Va. (WBOY) — A Charleston man has been accused of driving under the influence of drugs and causing a wreck that killed another driver in Ritchie County back in March.

On March 29, deputies with the Ritchie County Sheriff’s Department responded to an accident on the Staunton Turnpike in Smithville that involved three vehicles, two of which were on fire, according to a criminal complaint. One of the drivers, Carol Arnold Simmons, “was deceased on arrival,” the complaint said.

While at the scene, deputies made contact with another of the drivers, Adam Foster, 35, of Charleston, who said that “he was traveling west on Rt. 47 coming around a left hand turn when a deer ran in front of him,” according to the complaint. Deputies said that Foster claimed that “he cut the wheel to the left and went into the eastbound lane and struck a vehicle head on.”

Deputies noted that Foster “appeared to be disoriented and confused,” and he was transported to Minnie Hamilton Hospital in Grantsville; another passenger in Simmons was transported to Camden Clark Hospital for treatment.

Another person involved in the accident told deputies “he did not see a deer in the road” when Foster’s vehicle “came into the eastbound lane, striking both vehicles,” according to the complaint.

In their investigation, deputies determined that Foster “went left of center and struck” Simmons’ vehicle “head on,” and then, Simmons’ vehicle hit another vehicle “and overturned.” Foster’s vehicle and the third vehicle in the incident “caught on fire, causing significant damage” to about five acres of wooded area, deputies said.

Deputies requested a blood draw from Minnie Hamilton Hospital to determine if Foster was under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances at the time of the crash, according to the complaint. However, Foster “refused any blood work,” deputies said, and he was then detained and searched.

Deputies said they found a container “with a white powdery residue inside of it” in Foster’s pocket.

On April 1, deputies spoke with another victim of the accident who stated “she did not see any deer in or around the roadway,” and that Foster “came around the turn in their lane and struck them head on,” deputies said.

After that interview, Foster’s blood was sent to the West Virginia State Police Forensic Lab, and on May 6, deputies learned that it “tested positive for amphetamine, fentanyl, methamphetamine and norfentanyl,” according to the complaint.

Foster has been charged with DUI causing death. He was booked in North Central Regional Jail on June 25 and is being held on $20,000 cash-only bond.

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