West Virginia farming community remembers Angela Born after fatal crash

PUTNAM/KANAWHA COUNTIES, W.Va. (WOWK) - The West Virginia agricultural community is mourning after one of its own was killed in a vehicle crash in Putnam County. Angela Born, 52, died Thursday, March 5, after a suspect vehicle in a police pursuit crashed into her vehicle on I-64 in Putnam County. Authorities said Born's vehicle caught fire in the crash, and though they pulled her out and tried to revive her, Born died at the scene. In identifying her as the victim, Putnam County Sheriff Bobby Eggleton said, “Mrs. Born was a wonderful person, and our prayers go out to her family.” Angela and her family own Country Road House and Berries, a bed and breakfast and a strawberry farm located just off Kittyhawk Road in Clendenin. According to their website, the Borns pride themselves on growing healthy local food and sharing the natural beauty and rich history of the area with their visitors. The Country Road House and Berries website says Angela grew up in St. Albans and attended West Virginia Wesleyan College. She then moved to St. Louis, Missouri, for graduate school and work, which is where she met and married her husband, John. They lived in Missouri for 20 years before returning to West Virginia, the website says. She is survived by her husband and their six children. In 2020, Born spoke with Nexstar's WOWK 13 News about her farm and their agricultural practices. It was about a month before peak strawberry season, and she told us how they open the fields for strawberry picking and how the COVID-19 pandemic was impacting how they planned to navigate picking season. Then, in 2025, she spoke with us again about the farm's abundance of crops for the season and overcoming the drought of 2024. She also told us about how they had implemented a new crop called Malwina strawberries, a longer-lasting variety that exceeded their expectations. The West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition issued a statement, saying Born was a beloved member of the state’s farming community. "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Angela McFarland Born, a beloved member of West Virginia’s farming community.Angela and her family were dedicated strawberry producers, and we have had the joy of watching the next generation of their farm grow as her sons began developing their work as maple producers. Angela’s commitment to her family, her farm, and her community was clear in every conversation we shared.Just a few days ago, we had the privilege of seeing Angela at the West Virginia University Small Farm Conference. As always, she brought thoughtful insight, warmth, and a spirit of generosity to the conversations happening around her. We are grateful that we had that opportunity to connect with her one more time.Angela’s presence will be deeply missed by so many in our community. Our hearts are with her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her.Please join us in holding Angela’s family in your thoughts during this difficult time."-West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition The West Virginia Department of Agriculture shared its condolences on Angela's passing, saying that, along with being a farmer, she was also an educator and an advocate for the agricultural community. "The West Virginia Department of Agriculture joins the agricultural community in grieving the tragic loss of Kanawha County farmer, advocate, and educator Angela Born.Many members of our staff had the opportunity to work with Angela over the years and visit her strawberry patch, where she generously shared her knowledge and passion for agriculture with others.Our thoughts and prayers are with Angela’s family, friends, and all those who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time."-West Virginia Department of Agriculture The Town of Clendenin also put out a call for the community to remember Angela's family as they grieve her loss: "Our thoughts & prayers are with the family of Angela Born at this time. Please remember her husband and children as they deal with this tragic loss." Herbert Hoover High School's Track and Field Team has also announced that they are taking donations to help purchase meals for the family as they navigate through their tragic loss. You can learn more about how to help here. The suspect in the crash that took Born's life is Joseph R. Elswick Jr., 22, of Putnam County. Eggleton says he is being charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, fleeing with reckless indifference, and “several other charges as they are determined to be needed.”