OAKLAND  — A Nicholas County, W.Va., man was killed Friday after the vehicle he was riding in was struck by a tractor-trailer on state Route 135, according to the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office.

Wayne Keith, 45, of Swiss was pronounced dead at the scene of the 4:20 p.m. accident., police said.

Police said a 2000 Ford truck driven by Vernon Hess, 59, of Mount Lookout, W.Va., was merging onto the roadway from Mt. Zion Road and pulled into the path of an eastbound 2001 Kenworth tractor-trailer operated by Edward Dillingsworth, 71, of Oakland.

Hess and Keith were partially ejected from the truck and trapped in the wreckage.

Hess was transported to Garrett Memorial Hospital by Southern Garrett Rescue Squad. Deer Park firefighters also responded to the scene. Dillsworth was not injured.

The accident remains under investigation and charges are pending, police said.