Suspended Charleston attorney dies after being hit on I-64

NITRO – A Charleston attorney who was facing a court date of his own was killed Thursday after apparently running into traffic on Interstate 64 and being hit by two tractor-trailers.

The Nitro Police Department said Friday that Todd Twyman, 40, died about 9:30 p.m. Thursday after running into I-64 westbound, according to a story on The Herald-Dispatch newspaper's Web site.

Twyman was to go to trial Monday in Scioto County, Ohio, in front of Judge William T. Marshall to face third-degree felony charges.

In February, Twyman had his law license suspended by the state Supreme Court. He also had been ordered to be examined "by a qualified medical expert designated by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel."

In that case, Twyman was accused of failing to obey an Ohio sheriff's deputy's orders. He was arrested in Wheelersburg, Ohio, on Oct. 14.

"… the defendant did operate a motor vehicle, a 2005 Lexus registered in the defendant's name, so as to willfully elude or flee from a Scioto County Sheriff's Deputy after receiving visible and audible warning to stop his motor vehicle," a state court document says. "During the pursuit the defendant operated his vehicle in such a way as to cause a substantial risk of serious physical harm to persons."

The indictment against Twyman was filed on Oct. 27, charging him with failure to comply with order or signal of a police officer, which is a third-degree felony. On Nov. 28, Twyman entered a plea of not guilty, and his bond was continued.

Twyman was a graduate of the West Virginia University College of Law and a past chairman of the West Virginia Bar's Young Lawyers Section.