Gov. Justice pays tribute to Barbour County teen killed in car wreck

CHARLESTON, W.V. (WBOY) — Gov. Jim Justice (R-WV) began his weekly online media briefing by paying tribute to Keaton McDermott a student-athlete and recent graduate of Philip Barbour High School who was killed in a car accident Sunday near Valley Head in Randolph County.

“For all his family, I ask for your prayers. For his girlfriend, I ask for your prayers,” said Justice. “Surely. (First Lady) Cathy (Justice) and I will be praying for this young man. I know we lose people all the time, but this came to us and I wanted to make note of it. I hope we carry that to all the folks that have tragic accidents and the folks we lose. God bless this good man and all of his loved ones.”

According to a release from the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office , on June 23, deputies responded to an accident involving multiple vehicles on U.S. Route 219 along Seneca Trail between Valley Head and Huttonsville.

When deputies arrived on the scene, they found that three vehicles were involved and that two had “significant front-end damage.” Fire crews on the scene were able to extricate McDermott from the wreckage, but he did not survive.

The remaining people involved in the crash were taken to Davis Medical Center for further treatment.

Friends, family and members of the community held a candlelight vigil for McDermott at the Philip Barbour High School football stadium on Monday evening.

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