A Buckhannon fire truck blocks part of Route 20 near Lowe’s as a 1986 Ford Ranger involved in Thursday’s fatal crash is loaded onto a tow truck. The driver of the Ford Ranger was killed when he apparently fell asleep and hit the 2008 Ford Taurus pictured below. The driver of that vehicle was also killed. Photos by Becky Wine.

Five days after an accident killed four local young women, a head-on collision killed two people on Route 20 near Lowe’s Thursday when the driver of one vehicle apparently fell asleep.

Jeremy Jay Thomas, 19, of French Creek, died after his 1986 Ford Ranger pickup truck crossed over the center line and struck a car driven by Lynn Robert Blank, 57, of Buckhannon, according to a press release from the Buckhannon Police Department.

Blank was also killed in the accident.

Matthew Alderman, 21, of Buckhannon, was a passenger in Thomas’ vehicle. Carla J. Blank, 50, of Buckhannon, was a passenger in Blank’s vehicle. Both passengers were taken by Upshur County EMS to St. Joseph’s Hospital and later flown to Ruby Memorial Hospital.

Buckhannon Police Chief Matt Gregory said he believed they were in stable condition when they left St. Joseph’s Hospital, but their status could not be confirmed Thursday evening.

As of Friday, March 21 Carla Blank was listed in good condition and Alderman had reportedly been released.

Reports indicate that Thomas potentially fell asleep at the wheel, according to Gregory. Thomas’ vehicle was traveling south at 7 a.m. when it crossed into the other lane and hit the 2008 Ford Taurus driven by Blank in front of Lowe’s.

The Upshur County Sheriff’s Department and Buckhannon Fire Department also responded. Traffic was reduced to one lane on Route 20 North until the cars could be removed, according to Gregory.

As in all fatalities, a toxicology test has been done and the results should be back within a couple of weeks.

Thomas was a 2007 graduate of Buckhannon-Upshur High School, and Alderman is also a recent graduate of B-UHS.