A West Virginia man was killed yesterday when he drove his van into the path of a tractor-trailer on U.S. 48 on Polish Mountain, just east of Flintstone, state police said.

Charles E. Watkins, 59, of Grafton, W.Va., was driving his 1989 Dodge van west about 4 p.m., when the vehicle traveled across the center lane and struck a tractor-trailer being driven by 32-year-old Mark B. Sherburn of Buchanan, Mich.

Mr. Sherburn was traveling eastbound on U.S. 48.

Mr. Watkins was pronounced dead on arrival at the Memorial Hospital in Cumberland. Mr. Sherburn was treated for minor injuries.

Police said an investigation into the accident is continuing.