State investigators are working to piece together what caused a deadly solo crash just outside the Atmore city limits. The incident happened late Monday afternoon when 70-year-old Larry Wright drifted off the asphalt and into a roadside ditch. By the time emergency crews cleared the scene, the long-time Escambia County resident had lost his life.
The dispatch call came in at approximately 4:45 p.m. on August 3 along Jack Springs Road. Troopers pinpointed the wreck near the intersection of Smith Dairy Road, about one mile north of town. The area features open two-lane blacktop surrounded by rural county land where traffic usually moves along without incident.
According to crash investigators, Wright was driving his 2002 Buick LeSabre south when the vehicle crossed the outer line. The Buick traveled into the dirt ditch along the right side of the road, coming to a hard, sudden stop. The impact caused heavy damage to the front end of the full-size sedan.
First responders arrived on the scene within minutes to find Wright suffering from severe trauma inside the vehicle. State troopers noted early in their preliminary report that Wright was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of impact. First responders pulled him from the wreckage and rushed him by ground ambulance to a regional medical facility.
Hospital staff worked on Wright as soon as the ambulance pulled into the emergency bay, but his injuries were fatal. Medical officials pronounced the driver dead a short time later. Troopers were notified shortly after to begin a full reconstruction of the accident scene.
Investigators from the ALEA Highway Patrol Division stayed on Jack Springs Road for hours to take measurements and photograph the scene. They examined the road surface, tire marks, and mechanical condition of the 2002 Buick LeSabre. State officials have not said whether health issues, speed, or distraction played a role in pushing the car off the pavement.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency continues to hold the lead role in the ongoing investigation into the collision. State troopers expect to release a final crash report once investigators complete their routine mechanical and environmental checks on the vehicle and roadway.
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