It happened on Monday, Feb. 1 at about 7:40 a. m.

Matthew S. Johnston, 16, of Buckhannon was driving south toward Buckhannon Upshur High School in his hardtop Jeep, when he crossed the center line, according to Upshur County Sheriff Virgil Miller.

Johnston struck a pickup truck, which Jonathon Keith Dowell, 59, of Buckhannon was driving, near the Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse, Miller said.

The vehicles collided nearly head-on, stated Miller, and Johnston was partially ejected. Miller does not think Johnston was wearing a seat belt.

Both drivers were flown via helicopter to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, according to Miller.

Johnston was in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit, and Dowell was in serious condition, Miller said.

The accident is still under investigation.

The Buckhannon Fire Department, Warren District Volunteer Fire Department, and Upshur County EMS also responded to the crash.