A child somehow walked away from a head-on collision that killed two people and left another fighting for her life, a survival that first responders are still struggling to comprehend. The juvenile had been riding in the back seat of a Ford SUV traveling westbound on Interstate 70 near Claysville, Pennsylvania, a stretch of highway known for fast-moving traffic but not typically for catastrophic crashes like this one. Yet in an instant, everything changed.
According to state police, a red Hyundai sedan traveling eastbound suddenly crossed the grassy median dividing the highway and careened directly into the oncoming SUV at full speed. There was no time to swerve, no time to brake, and no indication of why the Hyundai veered off course. The violent impact crushed both vehicles, scattering debris across multiple lanes and prompting drivers to pull over and call 911.
The collision killed both drivers. Sixty-nine-year-old William L. Magers of Glen Dale, West Virginia, who had been driving the Ford SUV, died at the scene despite rapid efforts from emergency crews. In the Hyundai, 59-year-old Donna Havens of Wheeling, West Virginia, also succumbed to her injuries before she could be transported. Two lives ended in moments, their families now grappling with a sudden, devastating loss.
Inside the SUV, another woman suffered life-threatening injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she remains in critical condition. Her name has not been released as authorities notify relatives and continue gathering details.What stunned first responders most was the child, shaken and frightened but alive, emerging from the
crumpled SUV with injuries far less severe than expected given the destruction around them. Investigators are now working to determine what caused the Hyundai to cross the median, examining mechanical factors, roadway conditions, and possible medical emergencies.For now, the community is left with grief, unanswered questions, and gratitude for one small miracle amid overwhelming tragedy.
