Ralph Mullenax was 83 years old and lived in Fairmont. On Sunday afternoon he drove south on U.S. Route 219 in Tucker County. Around 3:45 p.m. his vehicle left the road.
He lost control and went off the eastern edge of the roadway. The crash happened fast. Ralph died right there at the scene from his injuries.

West Virginia State Police got the call and started looking into what caused it. They said the investigation is still going. His next of kin has already been told the news.
Folks who knew Ralph will remember the long life he had before that afternoon. Eighty-three years is a lot of time filled with everyday moments and bigger ones too. Now those memories are what remain for the people closest to him.
The road where it happened is a regular stretch that drivers use every day. One ordinary trip turned into something no one expected. Police have not released more details yet about why the vehicle left the pavement.
Family and friends now face the quiet that follows a sudden loss like this. They will gather around the life Ralph lived rather than the way it ended. The state police will keep working until they finish their report.
In Tucker County the news spread quickly among those who drive that route. Ralph Mullenax of Fairmont is gone, and the empty place he leaves is felt by the ones who cared for him.






