slideshow

MADISON —A Madison man was killed Saturday in single vehicle crash on W.Va. Route 85, according to police

William Lewis “Wease” Topping, 26, of Madison, was killed in the fatal crash that happened about 12:30 a.m., Saturday morning, June 23, 2012, on West Virginia 85.

Madison Police Chief Chet Burgess said witnesses told police that Topping lost control of his vehicle, hit a pole, the vehicle flipped and hit a guard rail.

Burgess added that speed may have been a factor in the crash.

Topping was the only person in the vehicle.

Topping is the son of Mark and Sherry (Brown) Topping. He was a disabled combat veteran from the U.S. Marine Corps. and served two tours of duty in Iraq. He was a recipient of the purple heart. He was discharged in 2008.

According to his obituary, he loved being in the mountains and playing music. His family said he had a big heart and would help anyone that he could. He especially was a great help to his parents.

His funeral service will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, June 28, 2012, at Freeman Funeral Home with Kenneth Mitchelle officiating. Military rites will follow at Manns Cemetery at Manns Knob in Harts.

Friends may call on Wednesday, June 27, 2012, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Freeman Funeral Homeat 220 Main Avenue in Chapmanville.

• In other news, Firefighters were called to an abandoned house fire in the 4300-block of Coal River Road near Childress Road in Alum Creek.

According to dispatchers, the call came in around 4:30 a.m. Sunday.

There were no reported injuries.

The West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s was called in to determine what started the fire.

• A Logan County man died Sunday in a crash on County Road 3 in the Crawley Creek area, according to a news release from the Logan County Sheriff’s Department.

William Darren Workman, 36, of Chapmanville, died from his injuries.

Deputies say Workman was driving a pickup truck west on County Road 3 when he lost control about 12:01 a.m. Sunday. The truck hit an embankment and overturned several times, ejecting Workman and a passenger

The black 1992 Chevrolet pickup truck came to rest on its top.

There was no word if the passenger was injured.

Alcohol and speed are believed to be contributing factors in the crash, according to the release.