Joseph “Joe” Nobile

Joseph “Joe” Nobile, 54, of Crows Run, Reader, remains in the Northern Regional Jail in lieu of a $50,000 bond after being charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs causing death.

At about 5 a.m. Sunday the truck Nobile was driving went off of Wetzel-Tyler Ridge approximately eight miles from New Martinsville and four miles from Chiselfinger Ridge. The truck landed on its side after an approximately 25-foot drop, resulting in the death of 17-year-old Ariel Brianne Bradley of Reader, a passenger.

She was pronounced dead at the scene when authorities arrived.

They are awaiting a autopsy and toxicology report before determining the cause of death.

The criminal complaint filed by Wetzel County Sheriff’s Deputy Rob Scott says Nobile had consumed Xanax and hydrocodone along with alcohol, something the drug packaging warns against.

The daughter of Diana McDiffitt of Reader, Bradley was a senior at Valley High School, VHS’s 2009 Snow Queen, and an employee of Wendy’s in New Martinsville.

Wetzel County Superintendent of Schools Bill Jones said he called John Holliday, who leads the county’s crisis intervention team, Sunday morning and arranged for grief counselors to be at VHS Monday morning. Also, former principal Shawn Coen assisted since she went through similar situations twice during the previous school year. An assembly about the incident was held at VHS first thing Monday morning.

“Most of the kids were getting along pretty good,” said Jones. “Things were going as well as could be expected under these circumstances.”

Bradley’s funeral is scheduled for 1 p.m., Thursday, at the First Baptist Church, Reader. Also, calling hours are 2-8 p.m. today at Williams Funeral Home, Pine Grove.

Jones said he will talk with VHS Principal Shane Highley and try to figure out a schedule for whatever needs to be done so students may pay their respects.

On a related note, Jones said this is the second time the crisis intervention team has been deployed recently as they were at Hundred High School last week in the wake of the death of a HHS teacher, Christopher D. Roberts of Littleton. He died May 5 at the age of 36. At HHS they dismissed students one hour early on Friday so they could attend Roberts’ calling hours.