South Carolina Man and Trucking Business Plead Guilty to Contamination of Paint Creek Resulting from 2022 West Virginia Turnpike Crash

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Dennis Eugene West, 57, of Moncks Corner, South Carolina, pleaded guilty on October 9, 2025, as an individual and on behalf of his trucking business Gadsden, Gaillard and West LLC, each for negligent discharge of pollutants into United States waters.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 24, 2022, West was driving a tractor trailer in the northbound lane of Interstate 77 when he crashed while crossing Skitter Creek Bridge in Fayette County. Numerous totes containing alkyl dimethylamine that West was hauling ruptured as a result of the crash, and the pollutants spilled onto the bridge and ultimately discharged into Paint Creek. The discharge of the pollutants into Paint Creek, a tributary of the Kanawha River, continued until August 25, 2025, and caused adverse impacts on the aquatic life of the creek including the killing of several species of fish.

As part of his guilty plea, West admitted that he operated the tractor trailer under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. Law enforcement determined that West’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) was more an 0.08 percent. West Virginia law prohibits any person from operating a commercial motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.04 percent or more. West further admitted that did not have a permit issued pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act to discharge pollutants, including alkyl dimethylamine, into Paint Creek or any other water in West Virginia.

West and Gadsden, Gaillard and West LLC are scheduled to be sentenced on January 29, 2026. West faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison, up to one year of supervised release, and a $100,000 fine. Gadsden, Gaillard and West LLC faces a maximum penalty of up to five years of federal probation and a $200,000 fine.  West and Gadsden, Gaillard and West LLC also owe restitution of up to $1,654,654.01

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-Criminal Investigation Division, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP), and the West Virginia State Police.

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes and Special Assistant United States Attorney David Lastra are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-175.

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