FAYETTE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA — A truck driver has been ordered to pay more than $271,000 in penalties and restitution after a 2022 DUI crash on the West Virginia Turnpike spilled hazardous chemicals into Paint Creek and caused environmental damage.
Dennis Eugene West, 58, was ordered on April 29, 2026, to pay $266,444.86 in restitution. That amount comes in addition to a previous $5,000 fine. West was also previously sentenced to three years of federal probation.
Driver Pleaded Guilty in Pollution Case
In October 2025, West pleaded guilty as an individual and on behalf of his trucking business, Gadsden, Gaillard and West LLC, to negligent discharge of pollutants into United States waters.
The crash happened on August 24, 2022, in Fayette County. West was driving a commercial vehicle loaded with totes containing alkyl dimethylamine in the northbound lanes of the West Virginia Turnpike, also identified as Interstate 64-77 and I-77, when he crashed on the Skitter Creek Bridge.
Shortly after the wreck, the West Virginia Department of Transportation said the driver lost control, jackknifed, and crossed the barrier wall.
Several totes broke open during the crash, spilling the chemical onto the bridge. The pollutants then entered Paint Creek, a tributary of the Kanawha River.
Spill Killed Fish and Shut Down Turnpike
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia said the chemical discharge continued until August 25, 2022, and caused adverse impacts on aquatic life, including the killing of several species of fish.
The crash also shut down that section of the West Virginia Turnpike for more than 12 hours.
As part of his guilty plea, West admitted he was operating the tractor-trailer under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. Officials said his blood alcohol concentration was measured at more than 0.08% after the wreck.
West Virginia law prohibits commercial motor vehicle drivers from operating with a BAC of 0.04% or higher.
West also admitted he did not have a permit under the federal Clean Water Act to discharge pollutants, including alkyl dimethylamine, into Paint Creek or any other water in West Virginia.
Insurance Paid More Than $900K
Officials said an insurance company covering West previously paid more than $900,000 toward environmental containment, site cleanup, personal injury expenses, property damage, and other related costs.
Earlier case information stated that West and Gadsden, Gaillard and West LLC together faced restitution of up to $1,654,654. West had also faced up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release, and a $100,000 fine. His company faced up to five years of federal probation and a $200,000 fine.
Federal Prosecutor Praises Response
United States Attorney Moore Capito said West’s decision to haul a hazardous chemical while intoxicated put lives and the environment at risk.
“The defendant chose to transport a hazardous chemical while intoxicated, and that reckless decision didn’t just break the law — it put lives at risk and scarred this community’s environment,” Capito said.
Capito also praised investigators and emergency responders who handled the crash and spill.
“What followed, however, was a remarkable show of professionalism and resolve. I want to recognize the investigators from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, and the West Virginia State Police, whose work ensured accountability in this case,” Capito said.
He also recognized first responders who worked to secure the scene and limit the damage.
“Equally important are the first responders — men and women who ran toward danger, not away from it — who secured the scene, protected the public, and worked tirelessly, hour after hour, to contain the damage and begin restoring what was harmed,” Capito said. “Their swift, coordinated response turned what could have been far worse into a situation this community can recover from. Their commitment deserves not just our thanks, but our respect.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, and the West Virginia State Police.
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