Alabama child killed in highway crash, troopers report

Published 7:03 am Friday, November 26, 2021

An Atmore juvenile died in a two-vehicle crash on Nov. 24 near the 36-mile marker on Highway 31, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Sgt. Jeremy Burkett said in a release that the crash occurred at approximately 3:58 p.m.

“The 10-year-old youth was a passenger in the 2014 Chevrolet Equinox driving by Wandra T. Gibson, 40, of Atmore, which was attempting to pass a 1986 Freightliner tractor-trailer driven by Jonathan T. Jeter, 50, also of Atmore,” Burkett said.

Burkett said as the Equinox went to pass the Freightliner, the vehicles collided, causing the Equinox to overturn and land in the roadway.

“The 10-year-old youth was fatally injured and pronounced deceased at the scene,” he said. “Gibson and another 9-year-old youth, who was also a passenger in the Equinox, were injured and transported to a local area hospital for medical treatment.”

Burkett said the crash occurred approximately 3 miles west of Atmore.

ALEA officials aren’t releasing the identity of the juveniles due to their age.

Troopers with ALEA continue to investigate the crash.