Thousands of drivers found themselves trapped for more than eight hours overnight Friday on a remote stretch of the West Virginia Turnpike, after a mudslide caused by heavy rain clogged a storm drain and flooded the northbound lanes.
The traffic jam stretched across 12 miles, about 20 miles south of Charleston, leaving motorists with no detour options and little to no information. Many were forced to spend the night in their vehicles on the side of a dark, mountainous highway with no restrooms, no food or water, and no clear timeline for relief.
Stranded Without Warning or Help
While no injuries were reported, frustration boiled over as motorists shared their stories on social media. Some described the standstill as “terrifying,” saying their children needed to use the bathroom and they had nothing to drink. Others were left completely in the dark about the cause or expected duration of the shutdown.
Nicky Walters, returning from a wrestling event in Mount Hope, said she felt lucky not to need medication or be caring for someone else. Still, she was overwhelmed with concern for those who did.
“People needed, at minimum, water bottles passed out and some snacks—much less information,” Walters said. “They needed any lifeline to the outside world, and there was none.”
Authorities Admit Mistakes
Chuck Smith, executive director of the West Virginia Parkways Authority, admitted the agency mishandled the situation. In a rare move, Smith took full responsibility for the failure to reroute traffic and pledged that it “will never happen again.”
“One lane reopened Friday morning, but the damage had already been done,” he said in a statement.
Governor Patrick Morrisey also weighed in, calling the response “completely unacceptable.” He has ordered an immediate investigation and demanded the Parkways Authority revise its emergency procedures to prevent a repeat of this incident.
A Nightmare for Travelers
Brittany Lemon and her family were among those caught in the gridlock. After returning home to Parkersburg from a vacation in Myrtle Beach, she posted a video describing the experience.
“We had no water. The kids had to go to the bathroom. We were able to get maybe an hour of sleep,” she said. “Next year, I’ll be prepared for an emergency in the vehicle.”
Even former state cabinet secretary Mitch Carmichael voiced frustration, saying he was stranded “for hours with no relevant or timely info.”
He slammed the communication breakdown, calling it “incredibly unprofessional” and a black eye for West Virginia’s reputation.
A Wake-Up Call
This mudslide and the mismanagement that followed have sparked widespread calls for better emergency planning, improved communication with travelers, and basic measures like providing water and restroom access in long-term backups.
For those stranded overnight, the damage has already been done. But for the state’s agencies, this has become a moment of reckoning—and an opportunity to ensure no one is left in the dark again.
