Police chase ends with 98-year-old man, teen killed, two others injured, Alabama troopers say

Published 7:22 am Friday, December 29, 2023

A driver running from police appears to have caused a two-vehicle crash that killed a 98-year-old man, a teenager and injured one other person and himself, Alabama state troopers said.

The two-vehicle crash occurred at approximately 9:46 a.m. Thursday, and claimed two lives.

Aron C. Haynes, 98, of Valley, Alabama, was critically injured when the 2005 Nissan Altima in which he was a passenger collided head-on with the 2018 Kia Forte driven by Wesley T. McKinnon, 20, of Troy, Alabama.

Haynes was transported to East Alabama Medical Center-Lanier in Valley, where he later succumbed to injuries and was pronounced deceased.

An 18-year-old juvenile, who was a passenger in the Forte, was also critically injured. The teen was transported to a local hospital, where the 18-year-old also succumbed to injuries and was pronounced deceased.

The driver of the Altima, Regina G. Rutledge, 64, of Lanett and McKinnon were also both injured and transported to Piedmont Hospital in Columbus, Ga., for medical treatment.

Before the crash occurred, McKinnon was attempting to elude law enforcement.

The crash occurred on U.S. 29 near the 205 mile marker within the city limits of Valley in Chambers County.