Sheriff: Driver Killed In Atmore Crash May Have Never Known He Was Being Pursued

January 28, 2020

A local sheriff says a driver killed in a four vehicle crash north of Atmore last week may not have known a deputy was trying to catch up with him.

Warren Demetrick Stallworth, 39, of Monroeville, died in the crash about 5:45 p.m. January 23 on Highway 21 near Ross Road. Minutes before, an Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office began to pursue Stallworth, but Sheriff Heath Jackson said Monday that Stallworth may have never known because the deputy never caught up.

Jackson said one of his investigators was traveling south on Highway 21 in an unmarked vehicle when he was passed by a 2019 Acura TLX being driven in excess of 100 mph. The investigator and other drivers were forced off the roadway.

“The investigator activated his lights and siren and attempted to catch up to the vehicle but was unable to. It is not known if the driver of the Acura (Stallworth) knew that law enforcement was behind him,” Jackson said. “A few miles down the road near Ross Road, the investigator came upon a crash that involved the 2019 Acura and numerous other vehicles.”

Stallworth’s Acura collided head-on with a 2019 Ford F-150 driven by Spencer Rogers, 36, of Atmore. Also involved in the crash was a 2015 Chevrolet Impala driven by Sherry Ann Dale, 60, of Frisco City and a 2008 Dodge Ram driven by Sharon Banks, 53, of Monroeville.

Rogers, Dale, Banks, and two others were transported for treatment of injuries. Stallworth, who was not using a seat belt, was ejected from his vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Alabama State Troopers are continuing their investigation.

Comments

5 Responses to “Sheriff: Driver Killed In Atmore Crash May Have Never Known He Was Being Pursued”

  1. Richard on February 1st, 2020 10:08 pm

    Something most people don’t know about accidents that result from police pursuits is that the innocent bystanders whose vehicles get damaged or totaled have to bear all the costs of repairing/replacing their vehicles, and they have to pay for their own injuries. In most cases, the person being pursued knows the police are in pursuit. The law protects the police and their public employers from all liability.

  2. 429SCJ on January 30th, 2020 8:59 am

    I remember eluding on highway 90 in Biloxi, back in the day.

    Driving westbound, saw that cruiser in the east bound lanes blue lights come on in my rearview mirror, whipped my old AMX into a waterfront retirement home parking lot and just let that MHWP just fly on by, heading west.

    100mph is too fast for highway 90 or 21.

  3. Concern HWY 21 on January 28th, 2020 3:13 pm

    Personally I feel that the young man knew he was being chased I was on that road when it happen I was the one ahead of the truck that got hit head on and I thank God that it wasn’t me and my 3 kids that got hit head on so sad knowing that it was 5:30 when traffic is the worst when people are getting off work and traveling home with their children in the car ….. js

  4. Charlotte Rebecca Bates on January 28th, 2020 1:52 pm

    WOW! Just the day before this happened, my sis and I drove up to Monroeville on highway 21. And once when we drove up there, we started on a bridge, and a semi truck started passing a car, and we were already on the bridge, with no where to go. So, I slowed down, and got over as much as I could, and started praying. He missed us by about six feet. I always take my big van, instead of my small car, cause I feel I would stand a better chance in a big van, then a small car, if something like this happened to us. Praying for the family of all involved. Such a sad situation.

  5. Concerned Observer on January 28th, 2020 10:25 am

    If you’re driving that fast, you’re usually not concerned with anyone behind you. That fast in that area, there’s just no reason to be that reckless and endanger anyone else’s life.