College Basketball Player Killed in I-77 Crash in Jackson County
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Updated: 2:00 AM Mar 19, 2009
College Basketball Player Killed in I-77 Crash in Jackson County
A starting guard for the University of South Carolina-Aiken basketball team was killed in a car crash in West Virginia hours after his team made its first appearance in the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen.
Posted: 8:42 AM Mar 18, 2009
Reporter: Anna Baxter
Email Address: anna.baxter@wsaz.com
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UPDATE @ 6:11pm
From The Associated Press
FAIRPLAIN, W.Va. (AP) - A starting guard for the University of South Carolina-Aiken basketball team was killed in a car crash in West Virginia hours after his team made its first appearance in the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Department says Javonte Clanton apparently fell asleep at the wheel at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday while driving on I-77 near Fairplain.

Chief Deputy Bruce Dewees says Clanton was ejected from his 2002 Malibu after it left the road and rolled. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Clanton was heading home to Reynoldsburg, Ohio, after the Pacers lost to Augusta State University in the Southeast Regional basketball finals Tuesday night.

Coach Vince Alexander said the team is in shock and his heart goes out to Clanton's family and friends.



UPDATE @ 3:26pm
RIPLEY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The Jackson County Sheriff's Department tells WSAZ.com Javonte S. Clanton, 20 of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, was killed in the Wednesday morning accident along Interstate 77 near Fairplain.

WRDW, our sister station in Augusta, South Carolina, is reporting that Clanton is a USC Aiken men's basketball player. According to the station's website, Clanton left for his hometown just hours after USCA's first appearance in the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen. School officials tell WRDW he reportedly fell asleep at the wheel.



UPDATE @ 9:20am
RIPLEY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Police tell WSAZ.com that the driver killed in an accident Wednesday was driving in the northbound lanes of I-77 when he ran off the road and struck a tree.

The man was thrown from the car and pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators say speed did not play a factor in the accident.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the very latest information.



FAIRPLAIN, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Emergency crews are on the scene of a fatal accident along Interstate 77 in Jackson County, West Virginia.

The accident happened around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in the southbound lanes just south of the Fairplain Exit.

A spokesperson with the West Virginia State Police tell WSAZ.com one person has been killed in the accident. However, no other details are available at this time.

911 dispatchers tell WSAZ.com another accident has been reported in the same area. No word on the injuries involved in that accident.

Interstate 77 is down to one lane while crews clear the accident debris. Dispatchers are urging drivers to slow down because traffic is backed up in the area.

We have a crew on the scene. Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the very latest information.

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Latest Comments

Posted by: Odanny his brother on Dec 20, 2011 at 10:20 AM

i love you, i think about you every day... i miss you man, i knw nt why nor how, bt i knw god has a plan, so may god bless all of us, you,the family, the team and the sqad... also please forgive the ignorance of some, they knw nt what their wrds do to others, ms ronny stay blessed and be strong love you mom...
Posted by: Sharonda Clanton on Jun 3, 2009 at 11:56 PM

This was my SON and I want to let you know that I went to see the car and from the looks of it. I was blessed to be able to see my son as if he was sleeping there were only a few scares and the phone nor speed was a factor so when you post about someones family member be more sensitive because at the end of the day you are on the ouside looking in and don't know what the cause behind something is or how your comments are going to affect them. My son was a good kid and he was a GOD fearing man. He is okay because he is where we all should wan to be in "HEAVEN".
Posted by: gary on Mar 19, 2009 at 10:39 PM

o my pablo,,,if you only knew how troubled i am,,,,,please tell me how to fix it,,,hey mr emt,,,i bet you havent seen more accidents than me,,,i have loged over 1 million miles accident free all over the us and canada,,,i have seen a lot
$310,000,000
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