Bluefield Daily Telegraph
PRINCETON, W.Va. — A Mercer County man was arrested on a felony charge after allegedly intentionally hitting a volunteer firefighter with his vehicle during a traffic stop in icy road conditions in December.
Jeffery Lanford, 54, of Princeton, was charged Thursday evening with a felony count of unlawful wounding and a misdemeanor count of leaving the scene of injury, Trooper P.M. Hephner, of the West Virginia State Police Princeton detachment, said.
Hephner said Lanford turned himself in at the State Police detachment Thursday night.
The injured firefighter, Aaron Beeman, of the East River Volunteer Fire Department, was directing traffic at the intersection of Eads Mill Road and Keaton Lane during icy road conditions on Dec. 18, Hephner said.
Lanford allegedly struck Beeman with his vehicle. Hephner said it is alleged that Lanford was planning to “hit the firefighter before he did it, thus showing intent.”
Hephner said it does appear that it was an “intentional act.”
Beeman was treated and released from Princeton Community Hospital following the incident, Hephner said.
Lanford was arraigned Thursday night before Mercer County Magistrate Mike Flanigan. He was released on a $30,000 cash surety bond.
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