A woman who died in a fiery crash on Interstate 64 East in Putnam County, West Virginia, has been identified as Angela Born of Kanawha County. The deadly collision occurred Thursday afternoon around 2:30 p.m., according to Putnam County Sheriff Bobby Eggleton. Emergency crews responded to the scene where Born was pronounced dead after the crash caused her vehicle to catch fire. The incident forced authorities to shut down the eastbound lanes of I-64 for several hours while firefighters extinguished the blaze and investigators processed the scene.
Officials say 22-year-old Joseph R. Elswick of Putnam County has been arrested in connection with the crash. He is now facing several charges, including vehicular homicide and fleeing with reckless indifference. Authorities also obtained a search warrant to collect Elswick’s blood test results as part of the ongoing investigation.
According to Sheriff Eggleton, the situation began earlier when Elswick allegedly stole a vehicle that had a firearm inside. Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle on Johns Creek Road, but the driver fled, leading to a pursuit. During the chase, officers deployed stop sticks to puncture the vehicle’s tires.
Despite the damaged tires, investigators say Elswick continued driving onto Interstate 64, passing the Hurricane exit before crashing into Born’s vehicle, causing the deadly fire.
Sheriff Eggleton described Born as a respected member of the community who operated a local strawberry farm. He offered condolences to her family, remembering her as a kind and hardworking woman.
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