Buckhannon, WV (May 26, 2026) – Two people were taken to hospitals on Tuesday afternoon, May 26, after a tractor-trailer and a passenger vehicle were involved in a wreck on U.S. 48/33 West near WBUC Road in Upshur County.
Information released by the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office stated that emergency units were called to the highway during the afternoon. Deputies arriving at the roadway found a tractor-trailer and a dark-colored SUV with significant damage following the collision.
Two people inside the passenger vehicle were removed from the SUV before being taken by ambulance to St. Joseph’s Hospital. They were later flown to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown for additional treatment. The identities of the people involved and the extent of their injuries were not released in the initial report.
Traffic along U.S. 48/33 West was temporarily shut down while crews worked in the roadway and cleared the damaged vehicles from the highway.
Investigators are still working to determine what led up to the crash.
We are keeping the injured people and their families in our thoughts as recovery continues.
Why Highway Crashes Involving Tractor-Trailers Can Lead to Serious Injuries
Collisions involving tractor-trailers are most likely to result in severe damage because of the large size and weight difference between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles. Even at moderate speeds, smaller vehicles can experience extensive structural damage during a highway crash.
Factors like road conditions, traffic flow, visibility, and stopping distance are commonly reviewed after these types of wrecks. Larger trucks usually require more time and space to slow down, especially on busy highways or near intersections. Passenger vehicles may also become trapped or heavily damaged when struck by a commercial vehicle.
In many highway collisions, medical treatment may involve multiple stages of care. A person might first receive treatment at a nearby hospital before being transferred to a larger trauma center for specialized evaluation. This happens when injuries require advanced imaging, surgery, or intensive monitoring.
