According to the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the crash scene at approximately 9:30 a.m. after receiving reports of a serious accident involving a pickup truck. Preliminary findings from investigators revealed that Matthew Cornell was driving the vehicle when it traveled off the roadway and slammed into a tree.

Authorities said the force of the crash caused the truck to overturn before it finally came to rest upside down in a creek bed near the roadway. Emergency responders rushed to the area in hopes of saving the occupants, but both Matthew and Tracey Cornell suffered fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators have not yet determined what caused the vehicle to leave the roadway, and officials say the crash remains under active investigation. Detectives continue gathering evidence and reviewing the circumstances surrounding the accident as they work to understand exactly what happened on the winding stretch of Kanawha State Forest Drive.

News of the tragedy has deeply saddened many throughout Charleston and Kanawha County, where loved ones are remembering the couple through heartfelt tributes and prayers. Friends describe Matthew and Tracey Cornell as caring people whose sudden deaths have created a tremendous void in the lives of those who knew them.

The fatal crash also serves as a painful reminder of the dangers drivers can face on narrow and wooded roadways throughout the region. As the investigation continues, the community remains united in grief, mourning the loss of Matthew and Tracey Cornell while offering support and condolences to their family during this incredibly difficult time.