| A former Stumptown man has died from burns he received when
his gasoline tanker burst into flames following an accident
Monday.
Leo Starcher, 61, of Rockport, died in Pittsburgh Burn Center Tuesday
after he was life-flighted from the accident scene on Bull Fork Rd. near Tanner.
Starcher was reportedly burned over 100% of his body.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday at the Kimes Funeral Home in Parkersburg with Pastor Jack Flanery officiating. Burial will be in the Wadesville Cemetery.
Visitation is 2-4 and 6-8 today.
Sources close to the scene said the gasoline truck was loaded
with about 2000 gallons of fuel.
Reports said Starcher's tanker was involved in an accident when he swerved to miss a motorcycle.
The tanker dropped off the highway and went over an embankment.
Starcher reportedly was on fire when he exited the vehicle, and
neighbors wrapped him in a blanket.
A family spokesperson said he was alert and warned residents to
leave the area. "He told them he would not survive the burns, but
they needed to look after themselves," said the
spokesperson.
The truck, belonging to Stuart Oil in Parkersburg, was
reportedly enroute to a rural service station in the Tanner
area.
Starcher was born in Calhoun, a son of the late Harlan and Mae Lattea Starcher. He was employed as a driver for Stuart Oil Company of Parkersburg for 15 years.
He is survived by his wife, Janie Small Starcher; sons, Timothy Starcher of Haw River NC, Bill Smith of Rockport and Stacey Smith of Snow Camp NC; daughters, Sherry (Larry) Simmons of of Big Springs, Kim (Gary) of Rockport and Tracie (Jack) Williams of Fairplains.
Twelve-grandchildren survive.
Also, brothers, Darrell Starcher of Palestine and Harlan Starcher, Jr. of Stumptown; sisters, Ruby Powell and Rita Warnick of Barberton, Ohio. Emogene Poling and Janet Whited of Grantsville, Lena Franks of Ohio.
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