An early morning car accident on W.Va. 85, near McDonald’s, claimed the life of 28-year-old Michael Shawn Cook of Foster.

The crash occurred at approximately 3:20 Saturday morning, according to Boone 911 Emergency dispatchers, who received a call reporting the accident at exactly 3:21 a.m.

According to Greg Lay, Executive Director of the Boone County 911 Center, the first responders on the scene were Madison and Danville Fire Departments and the Madison Police Department.

Emergency responders found a mangled pile of metal, which looked to be a hatchback vehicle, and two victims.

It was not apparent on arrival as to which of the two men had been driving the car at the time of the accident, according to officials.

One man, Benjamin Richardson, was found lying outside the vehicle. He was transported to CAMC General Hospital, where he has been reported in stable condition.

The other occupant, 28-year old Cook, reportedly suffered traumatic head injury, as his body was reportedly partially ejected from the upturned car, trapped between the guardrail and the vehicle itself.

Cook was transported by ambulance to Boone Memorial Hospital, arriving at 4:04 a.m., where he was later pronounced dead.

A funeral was held for Cook at the Handley Funeral Home, at Danville, on Tuesday afternoon.

Emergency responders had requested transportation by helicopter, but was told that request could not be accommodated. “It was probably too cloudy to fly,” Lay told the Coal Valley News.

“They’re real particular about weather. Honestly, I don’t know if a flight would have made any

difference.”

The cause of the accident is still under investigation by the Madison City Police.