Friday's Internet Edition, November 21, 2008.
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Phillip Perkins clears snow from a sidewalk on Main Street Tuesday morning. The light snowfall caused schools to close. Additional snow fell Wednesday. |
Publisher An ex-football player who died last week set an example for others, according to a former coach who presided at his funeral.
Gary Nicholson, 23, of Newton was killed Friday when the vehicle he was riding in landed on its side, according to a report by Cpl. M.L. Bailey of the State Police detachment in Clay. Nicholson was pronounced dead at the scene.
The 2002 graduate of Roane County High School played quarterback for the Raiders and continued his football career at Concord and W.Va. State universities.
His former high school coach, Rev. Larry Greathouse, co-officiated at his funeral Monday.
“He was a super kid on and off the field,” Greathouse said. “The way he conducted himself, he set an example for everyone to follow.
“Whether it was on the football field or the wrestling mat, when everything was over and he shook your hand, you knew he gave you a hundred percent,” Greathouse said.
State Police said the accident occurred shortly after 11 a.m. on W.Va. 36 in the Valley Fork area of Clay County, approximately five miles from the Roane County line.
Nicholson, employed by Halliburton Services in Elkview, was riding in a truck used to haul liquid nitrogen.
A family member said Nicholson, who had worked for the company less than a year, was training a co-worker, Scott L. Burgess, 36, of Elkview, to operate the vehicle. The accident occurred on their second day of training.
State Police spokesman Sgt. Kenneth McCord said Burgess was driving and apparently lost control of the vehicle. The truck rolled over on its side in a sharp turn near the intersection with Laurel Creek Road that leads to Ovapa.
Nicholson was still inside the vehicle when police arrived. McCord said Burgess was outside the vehicle and had sustained a severe head injury. He was flown by helicopter to CAMC General Hospital in Charleston. A hospital spokesman said Burgess underwent outpatient surgery on Tuesday and was released.
The highway was closed for a few hours until the vehicle could be safely removed. McCord said none of the liquid nitrogen escaped from the vehicle.
The cause of the wreck remains under investigation.
