Buffalo, WV (July 29, 2026) – Two drivers were hospitalized on Tuesday, July 28, after a vehicle crossed the median and struck a tractor-trailer head-on near mile marker 12 on U.S. 35, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. The crash also shut down the southbound lanes for a time.
The passenger vehicle’s driver suffered life-threatening injuries, while the truck driver had minor injuries.
The investigation remains ongoing. We hope both drivers have a full recovery.
Why Are Median Crossovers Dangerous on Divided Highways?
When a vehicle crosses a median into oncoming lanes, the resulting impact tends to be far more severe than a typical same-direction crash, since both vehicles are usually closing in on each other at highway speed. The combined force involved is much greater than what either vehicle would experience striking a stationary object.
Medians are meant to separate opposing traffic, but a vehicle can cross one for several reasons, including a tire failure, driver fatigue, or a sudden loss of control. Depending on the median’s width and design, a vehicle may cross it quickly, leaving very little time for drivers on the other side to react.
Because tractor-trailers are significantly larger and heavier than passenger vehicles, a head-on crash between the two results in more serious injuries for the occupants of the smaller vehicle. Investigators typically examine the crossing vehicle’s path closely to determine what led it into oncoming traffic.
