CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of four young men whose lives were tragically cut short Friday night after a devastating crash at the elevated I-77/I-64 split.
The victims were identified as James McDaniel, 20; Colten Garcia, 20; Kaden Ashby, 21; and Kaiden Radford, 21.
According to authorities, the four friends had just left a Jason Aldean concert when the pickup truck they were traveling in went over the barrier at the elevated highway split and fell into a lot below.
The catastrophic crash claimed the lives of all four occupants, leaving their families, friends, and community devastated by an unimaginable loss.
As loved ones grieve, questions are being raised about the safety of the highway location. Officials have acknowledged that the I-77/I-64 split has been the site of previous incidents involving vehicles going over or nearly going over the barrier, prompting a review of the roadway and possible safety improvements.
For the families of James, Colten, Kaden, and Kaiden, the focus is not only on remembering the young men they loved but also on understanding how such a heartbreaking tragedy could happen.
Those who knew the four men are remembering them as friends, sons, and young people with futures ahead of them—futures that were taken away far too soon.
The crash has sparked renewed calls for action and a closer look at highway safety measures to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
James McDaniel, Colten Garcia, Kaden Ashby, and Kaiden Radford will be deeply missed by their families, friends, and everyone whose lives they touched. Their memories will continue to live on, even as loved ones face the pain of a loss that came far too suddenly.
Rest in peace, James, Colten, Kaden, and Kaiden.
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