SOUTHSIDE — A Putnam County man was killed in a three-vehicle accident on U.S. 35 near the county line Tuesday.

According to the West Virginia State Police report, Stanley M. Gray Jr., 44, of Winfield was driving his 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser east on U.S. 35 when a deer wandered into the road and was struck by the car.

After hitting the deer, Gray lost control, crossed the center line and into the path of a Swift Transportation Inc. 2006 Volvo tractor-trailer, driven by 49-year-old Evon L. Gray of Pennsylvania. The car hit the tractor-trailer head-on.

The impact forced the tractor-trailer off of the roadway and caused the truck part to go over an embankment leaving the trailer blocking both lanes of U.S. 35. The PT Cruiser was forced back into the eastbound lane where it then struck a 1998 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck driven by Charles K. Ellis of Pliny.

The accident happened around 6:30 p.m.

Members of the Mason County Emergency Medical Services and Point Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene.

U.S. 35 was closed for four hours as crews worked to extricate Stanley Gray from his vehicle and assist in cleaning up the accident scene.

Traffic was re-routed from U.S. 35 to W.Va. 62.

Stanley Gray was pronounced dead at the scene. He was taken to the Pleasant Valley Hospital morgue.

The other two drivers were shaken but not injured in the accident.

Trooper A.D. Wootton with the Mason County Detachment of the West Virginia State Police is investigating the accident. He is being assisted by Cpl. K.M. Gilley.

This is the second serious accident this week and the second fatality in Mason County for 2009.

On Tuesday, two people were taken to Cabell Huntington Hospital by helicopter after a two-vehicle accident on W.Va. 62 in Leon.

Jessica Durst, 21, and Jarrod Donohew, 27, both of Leon were listed in serious (Durst) and good (Donohew) condition in the hospital, according to Charles Shumaker, hospital spokesman.

Donohew was allegedly passing another vehicle when he struck Durst head-on. The accident happened near Eight Mile Road.

Capt. Carl Peterson is investigating the accident with charges pending.

On Jan. 21, two men were killed and one man was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center by helicopter following a single-vehicle accident on Sand Hill Road.

Matthew D. Scott, 21, of Columbus, Ohio, and Ryan Beckner, 32, of Point Pleasant were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident and Benjamin David Norvell, 32, of Point Pleasant was seriously injured.

The men had been celebrating Scott’s birthday.

Cpl. C.K. Zerkle of the West Virginia State Police is investigating with charges pending.