Weekend crash kills 10 year-old, uncle
By Staff
Jonathan Willis
PHIL CAMPBELL – A fiery crash over the weekend took the lives of a Phil Campbell man and his 10 year-old nephew.
Dylan Newell, of Sheffield, and his 25 year-old uncle, Jimmy Ray Carroll, died late Friday night when the Mercury Cougar they were riding in collided with a Ford pick-up truck on Alabama 13 in Phil Campbell. The car was traveling north along the two-lane portion of the highway, officials said.
Authorities said it appears the car went off the road then came back on to Alabama 13 and struck the truck. The car was sideways on the road when it collided with the truck.
The Cougar burst into flames upon contact.
Both bodies were sent to Huntsville for forensic testing so they could be positively identified.
The wreck occurred between 11:30-11:45 p.m. Friday.
The driver of the truck was treated for minor injuries and released from the hospital.
Newell was a fourth grade student at L.E. Wilson Elementary School in Sheffield.
"He was a good kid, very outgoing," said Carlos Nelson, interim principal at the school. "He was just a typical, mischievous fourth grade boy.
"He was always smiling and always happy."
Nelson said students built a memorial wall in honor of Newell on Monday.
"We've used every counselor in our system and from Healing Place to talk with the students," Nelson said.
"They were all shocked to hear about it (Monday)."
The fun loving fourth grader enjoyed spending time with his extended family in Phil Campbell, including Carroll, who was his mother's brother.
"I think Dylan loved everybody," said Harlon Hutcheson, who was Newell's great-uncle.
Hutcheson said Newell was like most children his age and just loved to be outdoors playing.
"He deeply loved the outdoors," Hutcheson said.
"His grandmother used to live out here by me and I would see Dylan outside riding his bicycle or a 4-wheeler all the time."
Newell had a 13 year-old brother.
Carroll, who lived in Jackson, Tenn., for many years, was engaged to be married.
Carroll is survived by one son.
