Hampshire County motorist accused in crash with Morgan County deputy

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A Slanesville motorist faces a charge of failure to yield in connection with a crash Monday night that resulted in the injury of a Morgan County Sheriff’s Department deputy, a West Virginia State Police trooper said Wednesday.

Deputy Dennis Jenkins since has been released from War Memorial Hospital in Berkeley Springs, Morgan County Sheriff K.C. Bohrer said Wednesday morning.

The crash occurred Monday at 8:24 p.m. at U.S. 522 and South Ridge Drive, police said.

Jenkins crashed his southbound cruiser on U.S. 522 after he swerved to avoid a motorist who was attempting to make a left turn onto the highway from South Ridge Drive, state police Cpl. V.E. Branham said Wednesday.

After swerving to miss the vehicle, Jenkins crashed into Total Images Salon, causing structural damage to the building, Branham said.

There were no cars parked at the business at 1788 Valley Road, and no one was inside.

“Luckily, they closed early that day,” Branham said of the salon. “It could have been a lot worse.”

Jenkins was treated for contusions and abrasions to the front of his body at the hospital, Bohrer said.

The 2018 Ford Explorer police cruiser that Jenkins was driving was totaled, Branham said.

The motorist, who wasn’t identified as of Wednesday night, had yet to be charged as of earlier in the day.

Jenkins was en route to the Frederick County, Va., line to look for suspects in a reported armed robbery in the neighboring county after being contacted about the incident when the crash occurred, police said.