Front Page Story - Virginia Bowen Car Crash

Car Flips in Chester
Crash Takes Life of Newell Woman

Contributed by Bonnie Ryan

Evening Review, Sept 20, 1972

A Newell Widow was killed Wednesday when her car went out of control in Chester and flipped near the entrance to the former Rocks Springs Park.
Mrs. Virginia Marie Bowen, 64, of 109 Grant St. was dead at the scene, West Virginia State Police said. Hancock County Coroner John Herron ruled accidental death due to head injuries.
Trooper James Plybon of the Weirton barracks of the state police said Mrs. Bowen’s car graveled down the steep Route 30 hill and turned left onto Carolina Ave., then continued left, crossed the street and went over an embankment onto the park property.
“Witnesses said they could see Mrs. Bowen sitting upright in her car as it went over the hill. The auto flipped end over end and came to rest on its roof.” Plybon declared.
The accident occurred at 5:15 p.m. at the intersection of Route 30 and Carolina Ave. Chester police summoned state police to the scene. Mrs. Bowen was pronounced dead on arrival at Weirton General Hospital at 6:45 p.m.
Chester firemen, returning from a dump blaze in Lawrenceville, remained at the scene to spray foam on gasoline leaking from the overturned car. Chief Hugh Lilly said firemen applied foam to the creek bed where gasoline was being carried to the river by spring-fed creek. He pointed out an accumulation of fumes in the culvert and tunnel could have caused an explosion.