Grinding Head-On Collision
Kills Arab Man

Emergency personnel work to free the driver of this Ford Taurus that was hit by an 18 wheeler late Friday afternoon.

A large wrecker had to be brought in to lift the front of the truck off of the car so that emergency workers could work to free the driver.

Pickup truck that was also involved in the accident.  Driver was not seriously injured.  All Arab Today Photos by Dwight Hayes

July 10, 2009 - By Dwight Hayes
A grinding, three vehicle crash on AL Hwy 69, just West of Arab, has claimed the life of an Arab man.  The wreck occurred around 3:45 pm Friday afternoon.  According to early witness statements, an 18 wheeler, owned by W. M. Burnett Trucking of Haleyville, AL, was traveling West toward Joppa when a tire blew.  The truck veered across the center line of the two lane road and struck a pickup truck causing it to overturn.  The 18 wheeler then hit a Ford Taurus head on.  The Taurus was pushed backward an estimated 100 feet.  The truck came to rest on the front of the car.  The driver of the car, Brian A. Mann, age 32, of Cullman Road, died at the scene.

Arab EMS, police, and rescue personnel worked feverishly to extricate the driver of the Taurus. A large wrecker had to be brought to the scene to lift the truck off of the car to allow emergency workers to work on the car.  Mann died before the rescue could be completed. The Cullman based Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter flew to the scene but was not used.

The unidentified driver of the pickup truck was extricated from the overturned truck and transported to Marshall Medical Center North by Arab Fire & Rescue ambulance.  Her injuries were not life threatening.

Personnel from Arab Fire Rescue, Arab Police, Arab Rescue Squad, Air Evac Lifeteam, Joppa Volunteer Fire Department and Marshall County EMA responded to the wreck.  The Alabama State Troopers Major Accident and Fatality Team was on site conducting an investigation.  Hwy 69 Traffic remained completely blocked until around 7 pm Friday night.