MOBILE — A Mobile man has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with a June crash in west Mobile that killed a 72-year-old passenger.
Chase Bodiford, 25, was arrested Saturday, Aug. 22, in connection with the crash at Schillinger Road South and Cottage Hill Road that killed Alan Grantham, according to the Mobile Police Department. According to jail records, Bodiford is charged with murder, first-degree assault and driving without insurance. As of Monday morning, he remained in Mobile Metro Jail.
What Police Say Happened
Police said officers responded to the intersection around 11:50 a.m. on June 20. Investigators determined a pickup truck traveling south on Schillinger Road ran a traffic light and collided with a vehicle traveling west on Cottage Hill Road.
According to the Mobile Police Department, Bodiford was driving the pickup truck and allegedly ran a red light at the corner of Schillinger Road South and Cottage Hill Road before the collision.
One Man Killed, Driver Injured
Grantham, who was a passenger in the vehicle that was struck, died at the scene. The driver of that vehicle was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries. Bodiford, the driver of the pickup, also sustained only minor injuries, police previously reported.
The intersection is a well-traveled crossing on the west side of Mobile, the kind of location where high speeds and red-light running can turn a routine drive into a tragedy within seconds.
The Charges Explained
The decision to pursue a murder charge in a fatal traffic collision reflects how Alabama law can treat a death caused by conduct such as allegedly running a red light while operating a vehicle, particularly when investigators determine the act rose to the level of recklessness or wantonness required for such a charge.
The first-degree assault count addresses the injury to the surviving driver, while the insurance charge speaks to the administrative and legal requirements all drivers must meet to be on the road.
The Growing West Mobile Corridor
Schillinger Road South and Cottage Hill Road anchor a section of Mobile that has seen rapid growth, with residential subdivisions, schools, retail centers and shopping generating heavy daily traffic.
Intersections in this part of the county are among the most congested and are frequent sites of collisions. Local drivers are well acquainted with the congestion and the importance of obeying signals during peak hours.
What Comes Next
As the case moves through the court system, the charges against Bodiford will be tested through arraignment, preliminary hearings and ultimately a trial unless a plea agreement is reached. Evidence from the crash reconstruction, witness accounts and any available camera footage is expected to be weighed.
The Mobile Police Department has not indicated whether additional charges or investigative findings may emerge. The family of Alan Grantham, and the surviving driver, will be among those following each development closely.
Presumption of Innocence
Bodiford is accused, not convicted. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law, and the judicial process offers him the opportunity to respond to the allegations. The outcome will be determined by the facts as presented in court.
