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MORGANTOWN, Monongalia County, Va., Oct. 12, 2026 — One person died and three others were hurt Monday morning, October 12, when a vehicle ran off eastbound Interstate 68 in Monongalia County, according to the Monongalia County Sheriff's Office.
The crash happened around 8:30 a.m. on eastbound I-68. The driver reportedly lost control, and the vehicle left the right side of the highway, went onto an embankment and began spinning.
A passenger, identified by the sheriff's office as Shirish Desai of Pennsylvania, was ejected during the crash and landed in the westbound lanes of I-68. Desai was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, identified as Naren Patel, and two other passengers, Chandrakantbhai Patel and Yogesh Patel, both of West Virginia, were taken to a local hospital.
Sheriff Todd Forbes' office said the cause of the crash remains under review. Our condolences go out to the family and friends of the deceased.
Where Single-Vehicle Highway Crashes Tend to Happen
Crashes in which a single vehicle leaves the roadway and strikes an embankment or median tend to cluster on interstates and rural highways with wide, unbroken shoulders and long stretches without exits or cross traffic. Drivers on these roads often travel at higher, steadier speeds for extended periods, which can dull attention and delay a correction once a vehicle starts to drift.
Terrain plays a role too. Embankments, guardrails and drainage ditches sit close to many interstate shoulders, and once a vehicle leaves the paved surface, a small loss of control can turn into a rollover or a spin before the driver can recover. Morning and overnight hours, when traffic is lighter and fatigue or reduced visibility are more common, also see a larger share of these departures.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, traffic fatalities decreased 4.3 percent from 2022 to 2023. Even with that decline, single-vehicle roadway departures remain a steady contributor to highway deaths because of how quickly a car can transition from a stable lane position to an uncontrolled slide once it leaves the pavement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should families do after a fatal crash?
Families can request a copy of the official crash report once it's completed and stay in contact with the investigating agency for updates. It's also helpful to keep records of any communications with police, hospitals or the medical examiner's office.
How are fatal crashes investigated?
Officers or deputies typically document the scene, measure skid marks and vehicle positions, and may use crash reconstruction specialists to determine speed and cause. Toxicology results and mechanical inspections can take additional time to come back.
How long do fatal-crash investigations take?
Timelines vary widely. Straightforward cases may close within a few weeks, while those involving toxicology, reconstruction or multiple witnesses can take several months.
What role does impairment play in fatal crashes?
Investigators routinely check for signs of alcohol, drugs or fatigue in fatal crashes, though test results and findings are not always released publicly until the investigation concludes.
What to Do After a Single-Vehicle Highway Crash in Morgantown, WV
If you're involved in or witness a highway crash near Morgantown, move to a safe location away from traffic if possible and call 911 right away. Even if injuries seem minor at first, it's worth getting checked by a medical professional, since some injuries from a sudden impact or ejection aren't immediately obvious.
Cooperate with responding deputies or troopers and provide an honest account of what you saw or experienced. If you're a passenger or driver involved, ask for a copy of the police report number so you can follow up later. Giving yourself time to process the event, and reaching out to family or a counselor if needed, is also part of recovering from a serious crash.
