Truck & 18 Wheeler Wreck Claims Life

December 1, 2010
An 18 year old Joppa man was killed in a wreck Wednesday afternoon. Marcus Hughes was killed instantly when he apparently pulled into the path of an 18 wheeler traveling East on AL Highway 69 near Joppa. Witnesses said that Hughes stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of Mercury Drive and Hwy 69, then pulled into the path of the large truck. The accident occurred around 3:40 pm. He was driving a Chevrolet S-10 pickup.

The driver of the 18 wheeler was transported to Marshall Medical Center North by Arab Fire & Rescue ambulance. Witnesses on the scene said the driver may have suffered a seizure after the wreck occurred. The truck is owned by Liberty Transport, Inc. of Burlington, Iowa.

Hughes was a volunteer firefighter with the Tri-County Volunteer Fire Department in Hulaco and had previously volunteered with the Joppa Volunteer Fire Department.

The accident is being investigated by Alabama State Troopers. Emergency personnel from the Arab Police Department, Arab Fire & Rescue, Arab Rescue Squad, and Joppa Volunteer Fire Department responded to the wreck. Highway 69 was closed for several hours as troopers conducted their investigation.