1 killed, 1 injured in Talladega County crash involving dump truck, state trooper car

1 killed, 1 injured in Talladega County crash involving dump truck, state trooper car

A Ragland woman was killed in a multi-vehicle crash Friday that involved a dump truck and an Alabama State Trooper vehicle.

Troopers on Saturday identified the fatality victim as Lori M. Laber. She was 43.

The wreck happened at 11:16 a.m. on Alabama 77 in Lincoln.

Trooper Sgt. Jeremy Burkett said Laber was driving a Honda Civic that was struck by a Kenworth dump truck driven by 59-year-old Stephen J. Hopkins of Pell City. Before being hit by the truck, Laber’s car was struck in the rear by a trooper’s Dodge Charger.

Laber, Burkett said, was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. She was ejected from her car and pronounced dead on the scene.

Her passenger, 43-year-old Jesse R. Ecker Jr., also was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected as well. Ecker was taken to Citizens Baptist Medical Center in Talladega.

The investigation is ongoing by troopers.