Mickey W. Swisher, 30, Remembered After I-79 Construction Accident

 Mickey W. Swisher, 30, of Morgantown, West Virginia, is being remembered after he died following a construction accident on the I-79 bridge Tuesday morning, September 22, 2026. According to West Virginia State Police, the incident occurred around 9:45 a.m. at Mile Marker 142.5 on the bridge over White Day Creek Road, near the Marion and Monongalia county line. Swisher suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. His sudden death has left those closest to him grieving a loss that came without warning and grieving his absence.

The incident involved a heavy crane that malfunctioned while construction work was underway, according to the information provided. Concrete barriers were struck and hit three construction workers, causing them to fall from the bridge. Swisher was among those affected. Two other workers were injured and transported for medical treatment as emergency crews responded. The available account does not provide additional details about the nature or severity of their injuries.

The location, on I-79 near the boundary between Marion and Monongalia counties, was the focus of the emergency response Tuesday morning. State police responded to the industrial accident and worked to determine the circumstances surrounding what happened. The information provided does not state why the crane malfunctioned, whether equipment inspections had occurred, or whether any other factors contributed. Those questions remain separate from the details currently available about the incident.

For Swisher’s family, the notification of his death marked the beginning of an intensely painful period. The source states that his family was notified following the accident, while coworkers and others at the construction site also faced the immediate impact of the incident. A workplace accident can leave those involved processing shock while families begin confronting an absence they did not expect. In Swisher’s case, the loss came while he was engaged in construction work on a major highway bridge.

Swisher was 30 years old and lived in Morgantown, a community in northern West Virginia. Beyond his age and hometown, the source does not provide details about his occupation, family relationships, interests, or personal history. That means there is limited public information available about the life he lived away from the worksite. Still, the account makes clear that he was more than the circumstances surrounding his death: he was a loved one, friend, coworker, and valued member of his community.

The events on the I-79 bridge also affected other workers who were present when the crane malfunctioned. Three construction workers were struck by concrete barriers and fell from the bridge, according to the account, and two survived with injuries requiring medical treatment. Their presence underscores that the incident was a serious workplace event involving multiple people, not solely a loss for Swisher’s family. Further official findings may provide additional clarity about the equipment failure and the sequence of events.

As those who knew Mickey W. Swisher mourn, the circumstances of his death remain tied to the preliminary account of Tuesday morning’s construction accident. He was 30, from Morgantown, and was working when the crane malfunctioned and concrete barriers struck workers on the I-79 bridge. His family, friends, coworkers, and others affected by the incident are left to remember him while authorities continue determining what happened. For those closest to Swisher, his life and memory will extend beyond the details of the accident.