Jackson & Tucker, P.C. - 2229 First Avenue North, Birmingham, Alabama, 35203

Several Dead in Cherokee County

On Tuesday December 13, a major accident left several people dead in Cherokee County

According to authorities, the accident happened at around 7 p.m. in Leesburg Landing which is at the end of a winding partly gravel road extending from U.S. 411 to Weiss Lake. A 2009 Saturn Outlook SUV went into the water with seven occupants inside.

It is not known why the vehicle entered the water but the weather conditions were very foggy at the time.

Four people were confirmed dead, one was unaccounted for and two were taken alive from the vehicle and taken to hospital in Gadsden. The victims all drowned and were identified as Robert Hardin, Christy Hardin, Dale Steven Keener and Cheryl Hobson. The person still unaccounted for is Bobby Shore and it is believed he escaped from the vehicle but has still not been found.

Several people were involved in the rescue which was hampered by cold conditions and a strong current. Two boats were involved and pulled the vehicle from the water. In addition, there were multiple agencies including the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Leesburg police and fire and multiple city and volunteer fire departments.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident, after reports that the act may have been intentional.

The Meridian catastrophic injury claims attorneys of Jackson & Tucker, P.C., have the knowledge and experience to help you win maximum compensation for your injuries. Please call us right away at (866) 252-3535 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.

What are Traumatic Brain Injuries?

The crashworthiness of a vehicle – which is essentially its ability to protect the passengers inside in the event of a crash – is commonly referred to when discussing the safety tests of that particular vehicle. There are a number of criteria that are used when determining a vehicle’s crashworthiness and the ability to significantly reduce the chances of occupants suffering traumatic brain injury (TBI) during a crash is one of the primary factors.

Some TBI are obvious when an object penetrates the skull but even if that is not the case, Traumatic brain injury can happen as the brain and the inside of the skull can collide with one another just from the sheer force of the accident even if the head does not come in contact with any stationary object.

This is because when a motor vehicle stops suddenly, the brain keeps moving until it is stopped by the front of the skull which it strikes with a great deal of force. This is why you must always be checked out by a medical practitioner when you have been in a car accident as the extent of your injuries may not be apparent until later.

The Meridian catastrophic injury claims attorneys of Jackson & Tucker, P.C., have the knowledge and experience to help you win maximum compensation for your injuries. Please call us right away at (866) 252-3535 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.

Alabama Singer Chris Porter Dies in Accident

On Wednesday October 19, Alabama born singer songwriter Chris Porter died in an accident on the interstate.

According to authorities, the accident happened around midday when Pell City native Porter and his current group, Porter and the Bluebonnet Rattlesnakes were driving on the Interstate 95 in North Carolina. They became stuck in traffic in their tour bus and an 18 wheeler ran into the back of them and the driver is currently in jail for vehicular homicide. The force of the impact pushed Porter’s bus into a produce truck in front.

Mitchell Vandenburg, the driver was killed instantly as was Porter who was sitting behind him. Another band member, Adam Nurre was hospitalized.

Porter graduated from Pell City High School and went to Jacksonville State University and moved to Birmingham in 2002 where he began to play in music clubs.

The Meridian catastrophic injury claims attorneys of Jackson & Tucker, P.C., have the knowledge and experience to help you win maximum compensation for your injuries. Please call us right away at (866) 252-3535 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.

Four Vehicle Crash Leads to Death of Pell City Man

Early on Sunday morning, September 18, a four vehicle crash resulted in the death of a Pell City man.

According to Alabama State Troopers, the accident happened shortly after 1 a.m. on Interstate 20 westbound, one mile east of Pell City.

Christopher Stephen Masters, aged 42 was driving a 2003 Jeep Cherokee which collided with a 2000 Infinity I30. A 2013 Hyundai Sonata and a 2013 freightliner tractor-trailer were also involved in the crash.

Masters, who was not wearing a seat belt was ejected from the Jeep and pronounced dead at the scene. There were no other injuries among the other persons involved

Alabama State Troopers are continuing to investigate.

Masters was a 1992 graduate of Pell City High School and is survived by his wife, Diane Maddox Masters, and a son, Christopher Jase Masters.
Alabama State Troopers are continuing to investigate the crash.

The Meridian catastrophic injury claims attorneys of Jackson & Tucker, P.C., have the knowledge and experience to help you win maximum compensation for your injuries. Please call us right away at (866) 252-3535 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.

Teen Charged in Fatal One Way Crash

A teen has now been charged in a fatal wrong way crash which killed a woman from Hoover.

According to authorities they have charged 19 year old Pedro Ivan Rico Mendoza who lives in Pelham, with one count of reckless murder, two counts of first-degree assault and leaving the scene of an accident with injuries.

The accident happened at 3.45 a.m. on Interstate 65 south bound, between Alford Avenue and Montgomery Highway when 34 year old Crystal Lavonne Ponder was killed when Mendoza was travelling the wrong way under the influence of alcohol. He fled the scene after the accident. Ponder’s husband , who was driving, was treated and released from hospital and her 7 year old son was seriously injured and is still hospitalized in University Hospital, Birmingham.

Mendoza was caught and has previous multiple traffic citations as well as an arrest for possession of methamphetamine. His immigration status is also being investigated

The Meridian catastrophic injury claims attorneys of Jackson & Tucker, P.C., have the knowledge and experience to help you win maximum compensation for your injuries. Please call us right away at (866) 252-3535 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.

Accident Between an ATV and a Truck Leaves Man Dead

On Thursday evening, July 28, a man died and a child was injured following an accident between an ATV and truck in Tuscaloosa County.

According to the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, the accident happened at around 6 p.m. in Coker near the intersection of Westwood School Road and Highway 82 near mile marker 40. A Yamaha ATV was being driven by 26 year old Daniel Riley Guin of Coker and it was hit by a 2014 GMC Sierra driven by 26 year old Joseph Ryan Martinez, of Gordo.

Guin was taken to DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa where he passed away and a one year old child, who was a passenger on the ATV, was airlifted to Children’s of Alabama where their current condition is unknown.

Martinez was not injured and the investigation is continuing.

The Meridian catastrophic injury claims attorneys of Jackson & Tucker, P.C., have the knowledge and experience to help you win maximum compensation for your injuries. Please call us right away at (866) 252-3535 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.

Teen Killed in Bicycle Accident

On Thursday night, June 9, a Mountain Brook teen was killed in a bicycle accident when he was bicycling across U.S. 280.

According to Vestavia Hills police, the accident happened at around 9.30 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 280 and Dolly Ridge Road. David Zachary Parson was cycling northeast on Dolly Ridge Road when he tried to cross the highway while the westbound motorists had a green light. Parsons was hit by two vehicles, first a 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe, and then by a 1995 Nissan Altima. He was pronounced dead at the scene and police said no criminal charges are expected in the case.

Parson was a special needs student and had recently graduated from Chelsea High School and was either on his way to or from work at a Hoover assisted-living facility when the accident happened. He had just accepted a choir scholarship to Jefferson State Community College where he planned to study to become a nurse.

The Meridian catastrophic injury claims attorneys of Jackson & Tucker, P.C., have the knowledge and experience to help you win maximum compensation for your injuries. Please call us right away at (866) 252-3535 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.

School Bus Involved in Two Vehicle Crash

On Thursday, May 26, an Etowah County school bus was involved in a two vehicle crash which resulted in the death of a student.

According to Etowah County Sheriff’s Office the accident happened between 2.30 and 3.00 p.m. on Warrior Valley Road and Thompson Drive off of Al-132 in Altoona. The accident was between the school bus and a truck. Two students were on the bus at the time of the accident along with the driver and a school aide. The students were not injured but were taken to hospital as a precaution and both adults received injuries and were also taken to hospital.

The driver of the truck was 16 year old Trenton Blake Gibbs who was a student at West End High. He was airlifted to a hospital in Birmingham where he died a couple of hours later.

The Sheriff’s Office chaplains were on hand to help with counseling for students at West End High School.

The Meridian catastrophic injury claims attorneys of Jackson & Tucker, P.C., have the knowledge and experience to help you win maximum compensation for your injuries. Please call us right away at (866) 252-3535 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.

Fatal Motorcycle Crash in Limestone County

On Saturday night, April 2 a man died following a motorcycle crash in Limestone County.

According to state troopers with Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the accident happened at around 10.30 p.m. on Elkton Road, two miles north of Athens near B & S Grocery Store. Axel Thomas Mayer, aged 22, was riding his 2003 Suzuki motorcycle when it left the roadway for reasons as yet unknown and hit a tree. Mayer who was of Athens was wearing a helmet but was pronounced dead at the scene.

Later on, early on Sunday morning, 23 year old Cody LeDale Wells also died when his 2014 Ford Focus left the roadway, flipped and hit a tree on DeKalb County 85 one mile north of Fort Payne.

Wells, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Both crashes are under investigation by Alabama State Troopers.

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The Meridian catastrophic injury claims attorneys of Jackson & Tucker, P.C., have the knowledge and experience to help you win maximum compensation for your injuries. Please call us right away at (866) 252-3535 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.

Board of Education Member Dies in Single Vehicle Crash

Early on Saturday morning, March 19, Jefferson County Board of Education member Dean Taylor Jr. died in a single vehicle crash.

According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the accident happened at around 3.30 a.m. on Mt. Olive Road near the Buckshort Bridge, north of Gardendale. Taylor, aged 35, of Morris was driving a 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe and was traveling north on Mt. Olive Road when he lost control and the vehicle left the roadway, traveled down an embankment and struck a tree. Taylor was alone in the vehicle and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A passerby spotted the vehicle off the roadway and called 911.

Taylor was elected to the Jefferson County BOE in 2014 and the Jefferson County Republican Party said that he was an exemplary public servant who fought tirelessly to improve education for all who would be greatly missed.

The Meridian catastrophic injury claims attorneys of Jackson & Tucker, P.C., have the knowledge and experience to help you win maximum compensation for your injuries. Please call us right away at (866) 252-3535 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.