BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia man accused of fleeing the scene of a crash that killed a mother and daughter has been charged with murder and other counts, police said.
Kevin Lamar Graybeal, 54, of Dameron was taken into custody Monday and charged with two counts of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of an accident causing death, as well as reckless driving, driving suspended, obstructing an officer and assault, West Virginia State Police said in a statement.
Police responded to the crash in Raleigh County on Sunday evening and learned the driver of a gold Lincoln SUV involved in the crash had fled. A second vehicle was occupied by the driver, Sara Pettry, 30, of Naoma, and three juveniles, police said.
Pettry and her 3-year-old daughter died due to injuries suffered in the crash. Two other children, a 7-year-old female and an 11-year-old male, were hospitalized.
A crash reconstruction team responded and investigators identified Graybeal as a person of interest, police said.
Graybeal was hospitalized for injuries police believe he sustained in the crash after he was taken into custody. It wasn’t immediately clear whether he has an attorney.
The crash remains under investigation.