Alabama Ledger - March 2023

A LABAMA L EDGER

MARCH 2023

PAGE 6 www.AlabamaLedger.com

Secure Your Load and Avoid Littering in an effort to save lives, prevent damage and keep Alabama beautiful. “We are extremely help spread information and raise awareness.” Alabama PALS is a nonprofit statewide Safety Unit (MCSU) are dedicated to educating drivers, as well as companies, about the

Man Injured After Pursuit On Saturday, March 4, Alabama State Troopers attempted to stop Jovon D. Humphrey, age 42, of Decatur, for speeding on Interstate 565 in Limestone County. Humphrey, who was driving a 1998 Nissan Maxima, failed to stop and began to elude ALEA Troopers. As a result, a pursuit ensued. While on Interstate 565, the Maxima that Humphrey was driving left the roadway and struck a light pole at exit 15, in Madison County. Humphrey was not using a seat belt at the time of crash and was transported to Huntsville Hospital for treatment. Authorities added that charges are pending.

road debris while in motion and receives damage in Alabama, that is considered a traffic crash, and ALEA Troopers called to the scene will complete a crash report. To secure cargo in your vehicle or trailer: • Don’t overload or rely on the weight of your cargo to hold objects in place. • Tie loads down with rope, netting, or straps directly to your vehicle or trailer. • Cover the load with a sturdy tarp, especially when hauling loose material like branches, logs or miscellaneous objects. • Always double check to make sure your load is secure to prevent shifting. • Animals should be properly secured, as well. For more info on this and other traffic safety tips please visit: www.alea.gov.

Proper load securement is extremely important for a variety of reasons. From transporting items in the back of a pickup or securing industrial equipment on a commercial motor vehicle, it’s the responsibility of that individual to ensure the load does not fall or spill while in transit. According to the state officials, securing loads properly prevents traffic crashes, as well as helps to keep Alabama’s roadways clean and free of litter. It also helps to protect and preserve the state’s environment. These are some of the reasons why the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) is partnering with People Against a Littered State (PALS) to educate citizens, as well as visitors,

grateful to have been given another opportunity to partner with such a great organization as Alabama PALS," said ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor. "This new safety- focused initiative enables ALEA and PALS to keep our scenic roadways clean and free of litter in conjunction with preventing hazardous debris from falling off vehicles to ensure motorist safety. In 2022, ALEA first teamed up with PALS to develop Litter Law Brochures, which were distributed by our Public Affairs Officers at safety events and placed in our Driver License Examining Offices across the state to

organization dedicated to providing and implementing anti-litter programs all around Alabama in order to enhance environmental and economic impact through a litter free, cleaner and more beautiful environment. Alabama State Law allows a fine up to $3,000 and 100 hours of community service for a misdemeanor littering offense. Learn about Alabama Littering Laws here. “Not only is dropping trash or debris from your vehicle against the law, but it can also be extremely dangerous," said Secretary Taylor . "Troopers within ALEA’s Motor Carrier

importance of properly securing loads in any vehicle or trailer before transporting to reduce unsecured-load incidents, as well as crashes on Alabama’s roadways.” According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, at 55 miles per hour, a 20-pound object that falls from a vehicle strikes with an impact of 1,000 pounds. Data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that unsecured loads and road debris caused 715 deaths, 16,595 injuries, and 82,479 property-damage crashes nationwide in 2020. If a vehicle is struck by

Several Killed in Traffic Accidents DOUBLE FATALITY - A two-vehicle crash at approximately 5:25 a.m. on Thursday, March 16, 2023 has claimed the lives of two individuals. According to Alabama State Trooper, Jason L. West, age 46, of Guntersville was fatally injured when 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche that he was driving collided head-on with a 2001 Chevrolet C1500 driven by Brent A. Word, 33, of Crossville. West was not using a seat belt at the time of crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Word, who also was not using a seat belt at the time of the crash, was critically injured and transported to Marshall Medical Center North, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The crash occurred on Union Grove Road near Allens Crossroads, approximately three miles east of Morgan City, in Marshall County. HORTON MAN KILLED - A two-vehicle crash on Tuesday, March 7, has claimed the life of a Horton man. Charles M. Tinsley, 67, was fatally injured when the 1996 Honda Shadow motorcycle that he was operating was struck by a 2013 Chevrolet Impala driven by a 17-year-old juvenile. Tinsley was pronounced deceased at the scene. The crash occurred on Alabama 75 near Concord Road, approximately eight miles south of Albertville,

How to Properly Yield to Emergency Vehicles According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, numerous motorists across the state continuously fail to yield properly and safely when being approached by authorized emergency vehicles. The agency said in a news release that appropriately responding to emergency vehicles enables first responders to execute their duties effectively and efficiently while simultaneously allowing them to preserve public safety and protect Alabama citizens. “Recently, our Agency has noticed an increase in motorists failing to yield when encountering first responders operating vehicles in emergency situations,” said ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said. “These experiences only reiterate the seriousness for all motorists to stay alert and maintain a high level of situational awareness, allowing first responders and citizens, as well as visitors, to travel the state’s roadways safely." "ALEA Troopers and Special Agents have a responsibility and duty to operate emergency vehicles with regard for the safety of all motorists using Alabama’s highways. However, we absolutely need everyone’s help, not only providing the safe passage for vehicles responding to emergencies, but also reasonably yielding and pulling over for law enforcement officers conducting traffic stops," added Taylor. "This is another paramount issue that we truly need support from the citizens of this great State to assist our Agency in achieving its goal of having zero lives lost on Alabama roadways.” Section 32-5A-115 of the Code of Alabama state: “Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle equipped with at least one lighted lamp and audible signal as is required by law, the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right- hand [emphasis added] edge or curb of the roadway clear of any intersection and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, except when otherwise directed by a police officer.” “Our Troopers in the Highway Patrol Division have worked diligently to reduce crashes and traffic fatalities across the state through a number of high-visibility enforcement details. As our Troopers have implemented these campaigns and initiatives, they have also noticed motorists pulling over to the left and stopping in grass medians and center-only turn lanes, which create issues and makes it unsafe for our Troopers, as well as the motorists. Regardless, if you are yielding to an emergency vehicle like an ambulance or a fire truck that is responding to an emergency or an ALEA Trooper initiating a traffic stop, remember to follow the law and pull as close as possible to the right-hand edge," said ALEA’s Director of Department Public Safety (DPS) Colonel Jimmy Helms.

TENNESSEE MAN KILLED - A two-vehicle crash at approximately 10:05 a.m. Sunday, March 5, has claimed the life of an Ardmore, TN man. Chad E. Lewter, 49, was fatally injured when the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu that he was driving struck a 2019 Toyota Yaris driven by Kimberly B. Kindler, 58, of Toney. Lewter was not using a seat belt at the time of crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Kindler and the passenger of the Toyota, Mary F. Lewter, 79, of Toney, were both injured and transported to Huntsville Hospital for treatment. The crash occurred on Alabama 53 near the 332 mile marker, approximately 12 miles North of Huntsville, in Madison County. 20-YEAR-OLD DIES IN CRASH - A single- vehicle crash on Sunday, March 5, has claimed the life of a Madison man. Ethan A. Cantrell, 20, was fatally injured when the 2009 Nissan 370Z that he was driving left the roadway and struck a stump. Cantrell was pronounced deceased at the scene. The passenger, Cameron J. Cantrell, 22, of Owens Cross Roads, was injured and transported to Huntsville Hospital for treatment. Neither were using their seat belts at the time of crash. The crash occurred on Pulaski Pike Road near Grimwood Road, approximately seven miles west of Hazel Green, in Madison County. MOTORCYCLE FATALITY - A motorcycle crash on March 5 has claimed the life of a man from Bremen GA. Christopher L. Reece, 45, was fatally injured when the 2020 Harley Davidson motorcycle that he was operating left the roadway and struck a ditch. Reece was pronounced deceased at the scene. The crashed occurred on Cottaquilla Road near Laurel Circle Road, in Calhoun County. TWO VEHICLE CRASH - A two-vehicle crash on Friday, February 24, 2023 has claimed the life of a Hollywood woman. Jo Ann Mitchell, 60, was critically injured when the 2016 Ford Fiesta that she was driving collided head-on with the 2014 Toyota Tundra driven by Jairon Rene Tzun Vicente, 23, of Stevenson. Mitchell was transported to Huntsville Hospital for treatment, where she later succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased on Sunday, February 26. The crash occurred on U.S. 72 near the 146 mile marker, in Jackson County.

ONE DEAD, TWO KIDS INJURED - A single- vehicle crash Monday, March 13, has claimed the life of a Somerville woman. Morgan D. Kent, 28, was fatally injured when the 2003 Pontiac Vibe that she was driving left the roadway and struck a tree. Kent, who was not using her seat belt at the time of crash, was ejected and pronounced deceased at the scene. Two children who were passengers, a 7 year-old and a 3 year-old, were both injured and transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. The crash occurred on Union Hill Road near West Point Road, approximately two miles south of Lacey’s Spring, in Morgan County. 16-YEAR-OLD KILLED - A two-vehicle crash on Saturday, March 11, has claimed the life of a New Market teen. The 16-year-old, who was a passenger in the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta driven by an 18-year-old juvenile of Jacksonville, FL, was fatally injured when the Jetta collided head-on with the 2014 BMW 528i driven by Amanda B. Dean, 34, of Pisgah. The 16-year-old was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Jetta, Dean, and three juvenile passengers in the BMW, were all injured and transported to an area hospital for medical treatment. TWO WOMEN KILLED - A multi-vehicle cash on Friday, March 10, has claimed the lives of two Oneonta women. Donna A. Casey, 59, and her passenger, Barbara C. Heflin, 64, were both fatally injured when the 2020 Kia Forte that Casey was driving was struck in the rear by the 2019 Ford Van driven by Christopher R. Brown, 50, of Ashville. After the initial collision, the Kia Forte was pushed forward and was struck by the 2017 GMC Sierra driven by Will C. Berry, 38, of Oneonta. Casey and Heflin were both pronounced deceased at the scene. A 3-year-old passenger in the Forte was injured and airlifted to an area hospital. The crash occurred on U.S. 231 near the 250 mile marker, approximately four miles east of Oneonta.

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