Driver inattentiveness and risk taking causes unnecessary vehicle accidents and death irrespective of legislation,  Alabama attorney Keith T. Belt says

James Kenneth Howard Sr., 65, Woodland Drive, Phil Campbell, who would have celebrated his birthday today was killed Friday morning when his truck tumbled into a deep ravine south of Russellville. Howard, a retired truck driver, was moving into a new home in Phil Campbell after being displaced by the April 27 tornadoes. It’s really sad this happened, since he had just bought a new home on Cuba Ridge Road and was in the process of moving back into the Phil Campbell area.

The accident occurred on Alabama 243, in an area that was in the path of the April tornado as it moved from Hackleburg to Phil Campbell, crossed the highway into the East Franklin community and then on into Lawrence County destroying businesses and homes.

The accident happened about 9:15 a.m. 10 miles south of Russellville in an area were downed trees plus debris still cover the ravine and hillside where Friday’s accident occurred. A motorist traveling behind Howard saw the 1998 Ford Ranger truck go off the east side of road when he appeared to lose control while traveling north. The truck flipped as it went down the 150-foot ravine and Howard, not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle causing death from multiple blunt force trauma to the head.

It took rescue personnel more than three hours to retrieve the body and the truck, since the vehicle was so far down the ravine that it could not be seen from the highway.

Additional information available: Times Daily.com

About Belt Law Firm, P.C.

Belt Law Firm, P.C., is an Alabama personal injury law firm that represents the victims of dangerous and defective products throughout the communities of Birmingham, Bessemer, Cullman, Tuscaloosa, Jasper, Homewood, Jefferson County, Shelby County, Walker County, Blount County and Saint Clair County. Although the firm’s focus is on regional litigation in Alabama, the firm’s attorneys have also represented clients in Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Delaware. To learn more, call the firm toll-free at (888) 933-1514 or use its online form.