Teen, 98-year-old man killed in crash as driver flees police in east Alabama

Teen, 98-year-old man killed in crash as driver flees police in east Alabama

An elderly man and a teen were killed in a head-on crash that involved a vehicle attempting to elude law enforcement.

Alabama State Troopers identified the fatality victims as Aron C. Haynes, 98, of Valley, and an 18-year-old whose name authorities have not released because of his age.

The wreck happened at 9:46 a.m. Thursday on U.S. 29 in Valley, which is in Chambers County.

Haynes was a passenger in a Nissan Altima that collided head-on with a Kia Forte driven by 20-year-old Wesley T. McKinnon of Troy.

The 18-year-old passenger in McKinnon’s Altima was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead a short time later.

Trooper Sgt. Jeremy Burkett said that before the crash occurred, McKinnon was trying to elude law enforcement. Burkett did not say which law enforcement agency was trying to stop McKinnon or why.

Haynes was taken to East Alabama Medical Center- Lanier in Valley where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the vehicle in which Haynes was a passenger – 64-year-old Regina G. Rutledge of Lanett – was transported to Piedmont Hospital in Columbus, Ga.

Burkett said McKinnon was taken to Piedmont Hospital as well. The extent of his injuries was not immediately known.

The investigation is ongoing. Burkett said more information will be released as it becomes available.