Vehicle accidents have become an increasing problem and no amount of legislation can replace sound diver judgement or awareness in curbing this growing trend, Alabama attorney Keith T. Belt says

A Lauderdale County man was killed Wednesday when a utility trailer broke free and hit a vehicle, causing it to go off the roadway and plunge nose first into Cypress Creek. Billy McFall Jr., 70, of Florence, a passenger in a Ford Explorer Sport Trac traveling on Alabama 20, when it plunged into 12-15 feet of water in Cypress Creek, was pronounced dead at the scene .

The accident happened about 4:15 p.m. and witnesses traveling behind the Sport Trac indicate it was unreal (watching it happen). The Sport Trac, which was driven by McFall’s son, Greg, 34, of Florence, was southbound on Alabama 20 when the trailer that was being pulled by a northbound truck broke free, crossed into the southbound lane and struck the Sport Trac in the driver’s side door. Family members said the McFalls were going to visit Billy McFall’s wife, who was in the hospital recovering from surgery.

Witnesses said after being hit by the trailer, the Sport Trac swerved, went across the northbound lane and barely missed another truck and the guard rail at the end of the bridge before going off the road. Tracks from the roadway could be seen down the embankment and leading to a driveway and into the creek where the truck had traveled more than 150 feet after leaving the roadway before it plunged into the creek. Witnesses said the vehicle was airborne after leaving the roadway then it hit the water and it went down fast.

Greg McFall came to the surface and began shouting for help and then he went back under trying to get his father out, but there was not anything he could do. Florence police officers as well as members of the Florence Police Dive Team and the Florence Fire and Rescue Team went into the water as soon as they got to the scene in an attempt to help the victim.

The utility trailer, which broke free, was empty and being pulled by a Toyota T-100 truck driven by Jesse Shanes, of Florence, who was not injured. The trailer crossed the Cypress Creek Bridge it started bouncing around and broke free and slammed into the Sport Trac sending it about 130 feet across the roadway before it went down the embankment. After hitting the Sport Trac, the utility trailer spun in the middle of the road stopping about 40 feet north of where it collided with McFall’s vehicle.

McFall is the 52nd person to die in a traffic accident this year in Northwest Alabama and the southern Tennessee counties of Wayne and Lawrence. The accident is the second traffic fatality in October in the region.

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.