SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A dog named Hennessy is set to be reunited with her family after being rescued from a crash that killed her owner, Jeffrey Simons, on June 23.
The incident occurred on Interstate 64, where Simons, 64, of Wellsburg, Iowa, died while driving a semi-truck. Emergency responders from the South Charleston Police Department recovered Hennessy and transported her to the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association (KCHA).
According to KCHA Community Engagement Manager Angie Gillenwater, staff began efforts to locate Hennessy’s family after learning that the driver was out of state and that her collar displayed an out-of-state area code. Limited contact information presented a challenge, but community assistance via social media led to the discovery of Hennessy’s original Iowa shelter.
Gillenwater stated, “Our community here at KCHA went to work,” highlighting the role of more than 100,000 Facebook followers in the search. Following communication with Hennessy’s family, a FaceTime call was arranged to provide comfort to both the dog and her kin.
Hennessy’s family is expected to travel from Iowa to West Virginia by the end of the week to reclaim her, providing them with a bittersweet connection to their loved one.
The crash remains under investigation. No further details about the incident or lane closures were available.