Three killed in separate crashes

BY BRUCE BRANUM

The Greenville Standard

 

In the first death, a single vehicle crash in Butler County claimed the life Eli Cole Blackburn, age 19 of Georgiana, on Wednesday, Dec. 4., according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)

Blackburn was driving a 2000 Toyota Tacoma when the vehicle left the roadway and overturned at approximately 6:25 a.m. Blackburn was ejected and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The crash occurred on Mount Pisgah Road, approximately 11 miles west of Greenville.

A second death occurred at approximately 4:50 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, when a two vehicle crash happened on U.S. Interstate 65 near the 122 mile marker in the south bound lanes.

Robert M. Thomas, age 77 of Pensacola, was a passenger in a Honda Pilot and was fatally injured when the vehicle struck the rear end of a 2017 Volvo tractor-trailer.

Thomas was ejected and was pronounced deceased at the scene according to ALEA.

A third death occurred at approximately 12:24 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, when Moran Santos, aged 24 of Opelika, was fatally injured on I-65 near the 133 mile marker in the south bound lanes.

She was a passenger in a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado and was ejected when the vehicle left the roadway and struck a cable barrier before overturning.

According to ALEA, all three deceased persons were not wearing seatbelts at the time of accident.

Nothing further is available as Troopers with ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.