A late-night crash claimed the life of a 25-year-old police officer after a car slammed into the back of a golf cart, sending it off the road and into a tree.
It happened around 2:00 a.m. Saturday on South Pennsylvania Avenue near 6th Street in Wellston. A 2014 Hyundai, driven by a juvenile, struck the registered golf cart carrying two men. The golf cart veered off the roadway, while the Hyundai came to rest in the street.
The driver of the cart, 40-year-old Brant Derrow, suffered serious injuries and had to be flown to Cabell Huntington Hospital in West Virginia. His passenger, 25-year-old Matthew Juniper, was rushed to Holzer Medical Center in Jackson, where he was pronounced dead. The young driver of the Hyundai sustained only minor injuries.
Pennsylvania Avenue remained closed for nearly six hours while state troopers and local agencies investigated.
Remembering Officer Matthew Juniper
Juniper’s family is devastated by the sudden loss. His sister shared an emotional tribute online:
- He was just 25 years old and worked full-time as a Wellston Police Officer.
- He had a one-year-old son named Maddox, who was the joy of his life.
- He loved hunting, fishing, golfing, and seafood.
- He was rarely seen without his two dogs, Willow and Duke.
- To his sister, he wasn’t just a brother, but her hero, confidant, and best friend.
She wrote, “I never thought I’d ever have to live a life that my big brother is not in. He will never see me get married or meet my children one day. I will spend the rest of my life missing such a big part of me.”
The Wellston Police Department plans to honor their fallen brother with a police escort Saturday evening as Juniper’s body is brought through town to the funeral home.
Golf Carts and Road Safety 🚧
This tragedy is also a reminder about the risks of golf carts on public roads. Unlike cars, golf carts don’t have the same protections—no airbags, weaker frames, and little to shield riders in a crash.
For drivers of cars:
- Be alert, especially at night—golf carts can be harder to see.
- Keep extra distance if you spot a cart ahead.
- Slow down when passing.
For golf cart drivers and riders:
- Use headlights, reflectors, and safety flags to stay visible.
- Stick to roads where carts are allowed—and avoid busy highways.
- Buckle up if your cart has seat belts.
This devastating loss leaves a family, a police department, and an entire community mourning a young father and officer taken far too soon.
