Hackleburg man killed in Monday crash

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
A Hackleburg man was killed Monday evening when the truck he was driving was involved in a three-car wreck on U.S. 43.
Johnnie Oscar Taylor, 62, of Hackleburg, died from injuries sustained in the accident that happened just before 5 p.m. at U.S. 43 and North Jackson Avenue, Russellville police Capt. Shannon Oliver said.
Franklin County Coroner Elzie Malone pronounced Taylor dead at the scene.
Nelson Cooper, an 88 year-old Russellville man, was also injured in the accident. Authorities said Cooper was flown to Huntsville Hospital late Monday night.
The driver of the third vehicle, Joshua Michael Haney, 19, Russellville, was not injured.
Investigators said the accident apparently happened when a 1995 Chevrolet Lumina, driven by Haney, clipped the rear of Taylor's 2007 Chevrolet Colorado truck. Police believe Haney was passing Taylor and going to attempt to turn off on to Jackson Avenue.
Both vehicles were traveling south on U.S. 43.
Reports suggest that when Haney hit Taylor's vehicle, it caused him to lose control of his truck and sent him across the four-lane into the northbound lane of U.S. 43, where he struck Cooper.
Investigators said it appears that Taylor's truck slid at a 45-degree angle 175 feet across the southbound lane, the median and then into the northbound lane where it was struck in the passenger side door by Cooper's truck. The two vehicles then turned and ended up on the shoulder of the road at the guardrail.
Oliver said the accident remains under investigation.