A four-car accident that halted westbound traffic on Interstate 70 in Ohio County on Monday was just the latest in a string of incidents that injured several area residents.

The crash occurred just west of the Cabela Drive exit, and traffic was backed up for several miles as a result. No further details on the crash were available at press time.

Meanwhile, a local man and woman escaped serious injury over the weekend when a deer jumped onto their motorcycle.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred Saturday morning as Guy and Samantha Steed were traveling south on Ohio 213 in Jefferson County. A deer ran from the side of the road, jumping onto the motorcycle. The collision knocked the couple off the bike. They were transported to Trinity Medical Center with non life-threatening injuries, according to the patrol.

In another weekend crash, a father and his two children were injured when the all-terrain vehicle they were riding crashed over an embankment. The accident occurred around 3 a.m. Saturday near Verner Ridge in Beallsville. The man apparently lost control of the ATV, sending it over the embankment.

The family members were taken to Wheeling Hospital for treatment; however, the father was later flown by medical helicopter to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown for additional treatment.

According to the patrol, alcohol was a factor in the crash and the father refused to take a sobriety test. The extent of the children's injuries was not known Monday, however they were expected to be released to their mother. The children are under the age of 13.

The father could faces charges, and the case was expected to be forwarded to the Monroe County prosecutor Monday.

And two local residents were injured at about 10 p.m. Saturday when they fell from a bridge near the Ohio County Wildlife League facility in Valley Grove. According to the Ohio County Sheriff's Department report, Ricky Lee Beck of West Alexander, Pa., and Jennifer L. Statkus of Wheeling were walking across the bridge at the Wildlife League area when a truck began to approach the bridge.

It appears Beck tripped and started to fall while trying to get to the side of the bridge. Statkus then grabbed Beck, and they both fell about 7-8 feet onto large rocks below.

The Valley Grove EMS transported Statkus to Ohio Valley Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. Beck was taken by Dallas EMS to OVMC, where he was treated for a large gash on the right side of his head.