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| Stephen Cogar, 22, who has been with the DOH since October, died of smoke inhalation from the fire at the garage located at Cherry Falls. Here in 2013 |
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| Stephen Cogar, 22, who has been with the DOH since October, died of smoke inhalation from the fire at the garage located at Cherry Falls. Here with his pop who died in 2014. |
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| Stephen Cogar, 22, who has been with the DOH since October, died of smoke inhalation from the fire at the garage located at Cherry Falls. |
By Jeff Jenkins in News
December 04, 2017 at 5:40PM
CHERRY FALLS, W.Va. — A worker with the state Division of Highways died as a result of a fire early Monday morning at DOH headquarters in Webster County, authorities said.
Stephen Cogar, 22, who has been with the DOH since October, died of smoke inhalation from the fire at the garage located at Cherry Falls.
A news release from the Webster County Office of Emergency Services said Webster County received several 911 hang-up calls from Cogar’s cell phone. Before that, Cogar had been chatting with a Webster County dispatcher on social media.
A Webster County deputy was dispatched to the DOH garage after the hang-up calls, the release said.
“(The deputy) was immediately dispatched to investigate the calls after numerous attempts to contact Mr. Cogar via cell phone and landline phone at DOH Headquarters. At approximately 2:41am, Deputy Clayton arrived on scene reporting a working fire at the West Virginia Department of Highways Headquarters in Webster Springs.”
The state Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
State DOH spokesman Brent Walker said the news of Cogar’s death was devastating.
“He certainly was a valued team member. We are just all kind of shocked,” Walker said, adding it’s not unusual for a crew member to work overnight in some of the mountain counties.
“Temperatures, especially in the higher elevations, have really been cold and so it absolutely is not uncommon for us to have a shift or a person on call.”
DOH Secretary Tom Smith issued a statement in connection with the death:
“Early this morning, there was a fire at our Webster County Maintenance Headquarters. Tragically, one of our team members lost their life. Knowing what to say in these situations is always difficult for us, but as Secretary of Transportation, I will tell you that we are devastated and heartbroken and I hope, in the coming days, I can reach out to the family and personally express our sorrow. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and co-workers.”
Gov. Jim Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice issued a joint statement Monday afternoon:
“Cathy and I are heartbroken upon learning of the death of a West Virginia Division of Highways worker early this morning during a fire at the DOH Headquarters in Webster County. It’s tragic to lose one of our state employees, especially one so young. We ask all West Virginians to join us in praying for the family, friends and co-workers of this young man.”
Justice also began a news conference at the Capitol this afternoon with a moment of silence for the young DOH worker.
“We’ve lost a new employee at the age of 22. It’s tragic to lose a life,” Justice said. “It’s tragic to have a fire. We don’t know the circumstances. But we do know we’ve lost a young man. It’s especially bad when we lose someone who is 22 years old.”
Bernadette Gibson Griffith ·
Works at West Virginia Department of Transportation
As a former Webster County DOH employee I can assure you there is nothing out of the ordinary. In winter months there is a night watchman even if it is not calling for snow, they check the roads for slick spots and call out crews as directed by the County Supervisor in case of snow. And yes when I worked there the shift started on Sunday nights. May this young man Rest In Peace.
Gov. Jim Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice issued the following statement today upon learning of the death of a 22-year-old West Virginia Division of Highways worker in Webster County.
"Cathy and I are heartbroken upon learning of the death of a West Virginia Division of Highways worker early this morning during a fire at the DOH Headquarters in Webster County. It's tragic to lose one of our state employees, especially one so young. We ask all West Virginians to join us in praying for the family, friends and co-workers of this young man."
Statement from Secretary of Transportation Tom Smith on Death of Webster County DOH Employee:
“Early this morning, there was a fire at our Webster County Maintenance Headquarters. Tragically, one of our team members lost their life. Knowing what to say in these situations is always difficult for us, but as Secretary of Transportation, I will tell you that we are devastated and heartbroken and I hope, in the coming days, I can reach out to the family and personally express our sorrow. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and co-workers.”
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WEBSTER COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- UPDATE 12/4/17 @ 2:15 p.m.
The name of a WVDOH worker who died in a fire at a DOH headquarters site in Webster County has been released.
Stephen Cogar, 22, died in the fire early Monday morning.
According to a release, Webster County 911 received two hang-up calls from a cell phone.
After searching the number, 911 discovered the phone was registered to Cogar. 911 dispatchers had talked to him several times via social media before the hang-up calls.
Deputies were sent to the headquarters in Cherry Falls after numerous attempts to call Cogar and the landline phone at headquarters went unanswered.
When first responders arrived on scene, the building was heavily involved.
Cogar was found inside the building and Cogar was pronounced dead at the hospital after aggressive attempts to save his life.
The West Virginia State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
Senator Greg Boso, R-Nicholas, and Senator Robert Karnes, R-Upshur, issued the following statement about Cogar's death:
“On behalf of the entire West Virginia Senate, we extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and co-workers of Stephen Cogar. It is a sobering tragedy to lose one of our state employees, especially one so early in his life. May God bring peace and comfort to all who knew him, and our thoughts and our prayers will be with them in the coming days as they remember his life.”
ORIGINAL STORY 12/4/17
A transportation worker has died after a fire at the West Virginia Division of Highways headquarters in Webster County.
Officials say the man died of smoke inhalation at the facility in Cherry Falls.
The fire started early Monday morning.
According to a release, the worker had been employed with DOH since October.
The name of the worker has not been released at this time.
Keep checking WSAZ Mobile and WSAZ.com for the latest information.