A quiet evening turned into tragedy when a pickup truck veered off the road, slammed into a house, and sparked a massive fire that left one person dead, and two others critically injured.
Investigators say the vehicle barreled across the roadway, overturned, and landed on a propane tank before crashing into the home. The impact triggered an explosion that engulfed both the house and the truck in flames.
Inside the residence on SR 243 in Union Township, 47-year-old Penny R. White and 23-year-old Chayton C. Adkins were trapped as the fire spread. White died from her injuries at the scene. Adkins managed to escape but suffered critical injuries.
The driver of the vehicle, identified as 49-year-old Steven B. Holt, also sustained critical injuries. Both Holt and Adkins were rushed by emergency crews to Cabell Huntington Hospital.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol reports the crash happened just after 8:30 p.m. on September 23, 2025. Holt’s 2014 GMC pickup went off the right side of the road, then careened across to the opposite side before dropping over an embankment. The vehicle overturned and came to rest inside the home, igniting the deadly blaze.
Multiple agencies raced to the scene, including the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Chesapeake and Proctorville Police Departments, and several volunteer fire departments. Crews battled the blaze while medics tended to the injured. The Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office has also joined the investigation.
Fire officials noted that the incident required extensive mutual aid, with departments from across Lawrence County, and even Gallia County, assisting.
The crash and fire remain under investigation.