CULLMAN – Alabama State Trooper Curtis Summerville said this afternoon that although the circumstances surrounding the crash that killed 15-year-old Curt Wilson Sunday evening are still under investigation, the preliminary investigation indicates alcohol may have been a factor.
Wilson died at Children's of Alabama after being transported by helicopter from the scene of the wreck, which occurred just after 6 p.m. in the 2000 block of County Road 222 in front of Van's Sporting Goods.
Word of Wilson's passing spread quickly on social media Sunday night, with Cullman High School students gathering at Desperation Church in downtown Cullman. School administrators quickly reacted in support of the family and students.
"The Cullman Bearcat family has a very heavy heart tonight," said Cullman City Schools Superintendent Dr. Susan Patterson. "A tragic accident took the life of student and Bearcat baseball player Curtis Wilson. It is impossible to understand when a life is taken at such a young age and words can't express what we all feel. The loss of this young man will be felt throughout the Cullman community for years to come. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."
Patterson continued, "Cullman High School will provide grief counselors at the school to help students and friends cope with the loss of their classmate."
Traditions Bank of Cullman has set up a fund for the Wilson family. Donations to the Curt Wilson Memorial Fund may be made at any Traditions branch. CHS Principal Kim Hall announced the fund on Facebook.
Two other people were injured in the collision. One, the mother of the victim, Ashley Wilson, 43, was transported to Cullman Regional. The other, the driver of the second vehicle, Bradford Meeks, 27, of Cullman was airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham. According to troopers, both Curt and Ashley Wilson were wearing seatbelts; Meeks was not wearing a seatbelt.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) is handling the investigation. Troopers also identified a third vehicle involved. The driver of that vehicle, Lisa Hebert, 50, of Gardendale was not injured.
More details will be released as they become available.
Image courtesy of Patrick Britton on Twitter.
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