Dennis Eugene West of Moncks Corner, South Carolina, was ordered on April 29 to pay $266,444.86 in restitution after a tractor trailer crash in August 2022 led to a chemical spill into Paint Creek in Fayette County. West had previously received three years of federal probation and a $5,000 fine for negligent discharge of pollutants into United States waters.
The case highlights the consequences of hazardous material transport violations and their impact on the environment and public safety. The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia prosecutes federal crimes and handles civil cases for the United States to enhance citizens’ quality of life, according to the official website.
Court documents show that on August 24, 2022, West crashed his truck while crossing Skitter Creek Bridge on Interstate 64-77. Totes containing alkyl dimethylamine ruptured during the accident and spilled onto the bridge before entering Paint Creek—a tributary of the Kanawha River—causing fish deaths and shutting down part of the turnpike for more than twelve hours. The discharge continued until August 25.
West admitted operating his vehicle under the influence with a blood alcohol content above legal limits for commercial drivers in West Virginia. He also did not have a permit under the Clean Water Act to discharge pollutants into state waters. His trucking company pleaded guilty as well; its insurance has already paid over $900,000 toward cleanup costs.
United States Attorney Moore Capito said: “The defendant chose to transport a hazardous chemical while intoxicated, and that reckless decision didn’t just break the law — it put lives at risk and scarred this community’s environment… Their swift, coordinated response turned what could have been far worse into a situation this community can recover from.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office covers 23 counties in southern West Virginia with prosecution services for federal offenses and representation in civil litigation according to its official website. The office employs 37 attorneys and 40 non-attorney staff members as reported by its official site.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed restitution as part of sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes and Special Assistant United States Attorney David Lastra prosecuted with support from Financial Litigation Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Combs.
