POMEROY — A West Virginia man was killed early Christmas Eve in a head-on collision along U.S. 33 in Meigs County.

Troopers from the Gallia-Meigs Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said Stephen C. Burchett, Jr., 41, Murraysville, W.Va., was pronounced dead at the scene of the wreck, which occurred at 12:57 a.m. on Thursday. The driver of the second vehicle involved in the crash, 31-year old Michael B. Wilcox of Piqua, Ohio, refused treatment at the scene. No information was provided regarding any injuries he may have suffered.

Troopers reported that Burchett was traveling eastbound on U.S. 33 and was attempting to pass another vehicle when he apparently lost control of his 2002 Ford Explorer and crashed headlong into the 2007 Freightliner tractor trailer driven by Wilcox. Both vehicles sustained heavy damage and were towed from the scene. Troopers indicated that the accident is still under investigation.

According to the State Highway Patrol, Thursday’s wreck was the sixth fatal rural traffic accident in this calendar year in Meigs County. Overall, there have been nine fatal rural traffic accidents in the Gallia-Meigs Post area in 2009.