Three Brewton residents were killed Sunday afternoon when the car they were riding in collided with a pickup truck on U.S. Highway 31 north of town, according to Alabama State Troopers.
The crash occurred just before 4 p.m. at the 80 mile marker on Highway 31, roughly seven miles north of Brewton in Escambia County. Troopers said a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu carrying the three Brewton residents collided with a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck driven by a 51-year-old Greenville man. The driver of the pickup and one of his passengers were transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Pensacola, Florida, for treatment following the crash.
Investigators with the Alabama State Troopers said they had not yet determined what caused the collision as of the initial investigation. The agency said its Highway Patrol Division was continuing to examine the crash scene and gather evidence to determine a cause.
The collision closed a stretch of Highway 31 north of Brewton for several hours Sunday evening as troopers investigated and cleared the scene, a common procedure following serious crashes on the rural highway corridor connecting Escambia County to neighboring Conecuh County.
Highway 31 is a heavily traveled two-lane route linking Brewton to areas further north in Alabama, and local officials have periodically raised concerns about safety along stretches of the corridor as traffic volumes have grown over the years. Escambia County has seen its share of serious crashes on rural highways in recent years, prompting occasional calls from residents and local leaders for additional traffic safety measures, including turn lanes and improved lighting at high-risk intersections.
Alabama State Troopers routinely investigate fatal crashes across rural Escambia County roadways and remind drivers to exercise caution on undivided highways, particularly during afternoon and evening hours when traffic and visibility conditions can change quickly. The agency continues to encourage residents with information about the crash to contact investigators as the case remains under review.
Brewton, the Escambia County seat, is a close-knit community where sudden losses like Sunday’s crash are keenly felt, with residents and local churches often rallying to support families following serious accidents on the area’s rural highways.