News

Weirton Woman Enters Plea for Crash Involving Sheriff Deputy

Tess L. Haynes, 23, of Weirton has pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in an Aug. 9 automobile crash in which the Brooke County sheriff was injured.
Haynes was sentenced to two to 10 years in prison after agreeing to seek treatment for drug abuse during that time through a plea agreement approved by 1st Judicial Circuit Court Judge Ronald Wilson.
The Brooke County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed Haynes will receive credit for the time she has served, having been imprisoned since her arrest on that day.
West Virginia State Police reported Haynes was driving on U.S. Route 22 between the Main Street and Harmon Creek exits near Weirton when she struck Brooke County Sheriff Rich Beatty’s vehicle from behind.
Police said Beatty was parked along the highway at the time because he was responding to a disabled tractor-trailer there.
They said the sheriff sustained a spinal fracture as a result of the accident.
Police said a used hypodermic needle was found in Haynes’ deployed airbag.