Photo by Judy Light Matthew Scott Barker, age 17, succumbed to injuries he suffered as a result of a car accident on W.Va. 18 near Pursely.

Deputies from the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a crash that claimed the life of a 17-year old Paden City resident.

On July 10 at approximately 2:54 p.m., the Tyler County 911 Center received a report of a single car accident with a “roll over” along W.Va. 18 just before Hickman Road, near Pursely.

Tyler County Sheriff’s Deputies J.K. Maston and M.A. Corley were dispatched to the scene, along with Sistersville EMS and members of the Sistersville Volunteer Fire Department.

According to the deputies, Kyle Staton, age 18, of Paden City was traveling south on W.Va. 18 when his 2001 Mazda Millennia went off the right side of the road, back across the roadway and into a ditch, causing it to flip. Both the driver and his 17-year old passenger, Matthew Barker, were injured in the crash.

Staton was transported to Sistersville General Hospital by Sistersville EMS for treatment of minor injuries. AirEvac was called to the scene to transport Barker, via helicopter, to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va. On Saturday, he succumbed to injuries

The accident remains under investigation.

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Barker, who would’ve been a senior at Paden City High School this fall, was the son of Bradley and Angela Barker of Paden City.

According to his obituary, posted online at jarvisfuneralhomes.com, he loved weight lifting and on Saturday, July 7, seven days before his untimely death, Barker set five world records in the U.S.P.F. weight lifting competition. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and loved sports – especially football and baseball.

In addition to his parents, Barker is survived by a brother, Adam (Erica) Barker of Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., and two sisters, Meagan and Kayla Barker of Paden City.

Visitation will be held today at Jarvis-Williams Funeral Home from 2-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Funeral services are slated for 11 a.m. Thursday at the First Baptist Church in Paden City, with Pastor Jonathan Mast officiating.

In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to the Zachary Taylor Trust.

Help the Barker family to pay it forward by making donations, in Matt’s name, to the Zachary Taylor Trust, 1224 S Bridge St., New Martinsville, WV 26155.