WOODSFIELD — An older man and woman died after a vehicle crashed into their home at Monroe Manor Apartments early Wednesday afternoon.

“There are two dead,” Woodsfield Fire Chief Mike Young said, noting that first responders were called to the scene on Lewisville Road at 12:50 p.m. Wednesday.

“A car went through one of the apartments, killing both occupants of the residence,” Young said. “They were, I’m assuming, sitting there watching television. I don’t know (for certain). The whole apartment’s destroyed, but they were in their chairs.”

Woodsfield Police Chief Corey Jones provided more information about the deadly crash.

“An elderly gentleman that was also a resident … of that facility, he was the driver of that vehicle, he had another elderly gentleman as a passenger of the vehicle as well,” Jones said. “We’re not sure at this time if it was a mechanical malfunction or driver error of some sort – we have yet to determine that. (H)e accelerated at a high rate of speed through the parking lot, jumping up over the parking barrier onto the sidewalk and then into the residence at 201 Monroe Manor.”

Jones said names of those involved were being withheld, since as of Wedneday evening law enforcement had not yet reached their next of kin.

He added that there was no damage to the surrounding apartments, but residents were evacuated to the parking lot during the response.

“All the residents of this facility were definitely very shaken up,” Jones said.

“The assumption is that maybe the driver hit the gas instead of the brake,” Young said.

First responders rendered what assistance they could to the injured couple.

“We had to use air bags, Jaws of Life to do our recovery to get the car off the occupants of the residence. One occupant – the female – actually died at the Monroe County Airport awaiting transport by medical helicopter. The male, he succumbed to his injuries as he was under the car,” Young said, adding that both victims were older people.

“Two occupants in the car were transported to local hospitals,” Young said.

The Woodsfield and Lewisville fire departments and the Monroe County Emergency Management Agency responded.

“It’s still under investigation and the whole matter will be transferred to the Monroe County prosecutor, James Peters, for further review,” Jones said.