A south Alabama sheriff's deputy sustained minor injuries Friday night after being struck by a falling tree on U.S. Highway 231 in Newton, Dale County. The incident occurred while the deputy was responding to a multi-vehicle crash, an event directly linked by authorities to the hazardous conditions brought by Hurricane Isaias.
According to Dale County Sheriff Mason Bynum, the initial multi-vehicle accident unfolded when a car collided with a tree. This impact caused the tree to fall directly into the roadway, subsequently being struck by multiple other vehicles traversing the busy U.S. Highway 231. Sheriff Bynum confirmed that deputies were on the scene, managing the aftermath of this initial collision and assisting those involved.
It was during this critical response effort that an additional, separate tree unexpectedly fell. This second falling tree struck one of the vehicles already at the scene, an SUV, trapping its driver inside. Simultaneously, the falling tree also struck the nearby sheriff's deputy, who was actively engaged in duties at the crash site. The entire sequence of events, including the tree's descent and impact, was captured by a patrol vehicle's dashcam, a video of which Sheriff Bynum later shared.
Following the incident, the injured deputy was transported to an area hospital for medical evaluation and treatment. Sheriff Bynum reported that the deputy's injuries were minor. Efforts were immediately undertaken to extricate the driver of the SUV, who had been trapped by the fallen tree. That driver was successfully freed and is also reported to be in stable condition, according to the sheriff.
Sheriff Bynum used the incident as a stark warning to the community regarding the extreme dangers posed by current road conditions across south Alabama, particularly in his jurisdiction of Dale County. He stated that numerous trees had been brought down by the weather event, creating unpredictable hazards for drivers. Emphasizing the volatility of the situation, Sheriff Bynum urged residents to exercise extreme caution and, whenever possible, to avoid travel. He issued a direct plea, advising residents to "please stay off the roadways right now," underscoring the severity and fluidity of the hazardous environment. The incident serves as a critical reminder for residents of Newton and wider Dale County about the ongoing risks associated with post-hurricane conditions.
