PROCTORVILLE – A late night accident ended in the death of a Chesapeake man.

Thursday, February 03, 2000

PROCTORVILLE – A late night accident ended in the death of a Chesapeake man.

John L. Combs, 47, of 108 Township Road 200, Chesapeake, was pronounced dead at 12:50 this morning after his 1987 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck went off the side of the road, said Mark Duncan, Ohio Highway Patrol dispatcher.

"It happened at (10:25 p.m.) Wednesday, Feb. 2," Duncan said. "(Combs) was driving northbound on County Road 32, or Eaton Road in Union Township, when he drove off the right side of the roadway."

The vehicle then reentered the roadway before going off the road again – this time on the left side, Duncan said.

"At which time, he struck a traffic sign, an embankment and a tree," he said. "The unit overturned, ejecting the driver, and the driver was transported to River Valley Health System by Hall Funeral Home, where he was pronounced deceased."

No other vehicles were involved in the accident, Duncan said. Combs’ truck suffered heavy damage and was disabled.

The investigating officer is Trooper L.R. Mikes, he said.

Other departments responding to the scene included the Chesapeake Volunteer Fire Department, Southeast Ohio Emergency Medical Service, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department and the Chesapeake Police Department.

The incident is still under investigation, Duncan said.

Funeral arrangements for Combs are pending at Hall Funeral Home in Proctorville.