WOOD COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) — Several drivers are facing serious charges after two separate high-speed street racing incidents were caught by law enforcement on May 22, 2025, on Emerson Avenue, a stretch of road already known for traffic concerns.
The first incident occurred in the 10,000 block of Emerson Avenue around a posted 55 mph zone, where Lt. Ritchie clocked two vehicles — a Honda Civic and a Ford Fusion — racing northbound. Radar confirmed the Civic at 82 mph and the Fusion at 78 mph.
When Lt. Ritchie initiated a traffic stop, the Fusion complied, but the Civic accelerated past 100 mph, entering a clearly marked work zone with a reduced 45 mph speed limit. Despite rainy conditions and wet roads, the driver sped through the zone before eventually stopping on Valley Mills Road. A 19-year-old female passenger was also in the Civic. The driver — already out on bond for fleeing with reckless indifference and DUI — is now facing new charges, including:
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Street Racing
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Reckless Driving
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Speeding (82 in a 55 mph zone)
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Speeding 15+ over in a work zone
A short time later, Deputy B.G. Turner observed another pair of vehicles — a red Volkswagen sedan and a silver Jeep SUV — racing southbound in the same area. Using a department-issued rear radar, Turner clocked the Volkswagen at 92 mph and the Jeep at 79 mph in the 55 mph zone.
Both vehicles were stopped without incident. The Volkswagen was driven by Logan R. Lalone of Ohio, and the Jeep by Thomas Doniel Loll of West Virginia. A third arrests led to charges for Payton Hunt. Both held valid licenses and were charged with:
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Reckless Driving
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Drag Racing
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Speeding
All three incidents occurred within Wood County, and charges are pending through local courts.
Authorities are reminding drivers that street racing is a criminal offense and puts lives at risk — especially in wet weather, active work zones, and high-traffic areas. Further patrols and radar monitoring are expected to increase in the area to deter future violations.
