Couple hit head-on by suspect fleeing deputies; uncle dies in separate crash on way to hospital
JACKSON, Ala. (WALA/Gray News) – An Alabama man is speaking out after his mother and stepfather were hit head-on by a suspect fleeing deputies. Though they are recovering, the family lost another member to a separate crash that same night.
Investigators say Jeffrey Brown was leading Clarke County Sheriff’s deputies on a chase on the night of March 31 when he crossed the center line on Highway 69 in Jackson. He hit Linda and Frank Atchison’s car head-on as the couple were about to turn into their driveway.
Linda and Frank Atchison are recovering after they were hit head-on by a suspect fleeing.
At 9:30 p.m. that night, the Atchisons’ son, Will Wright, says he and his wife were about to settle down and watch TV when, all of a sudden, they heard sirens screaming part their house.
Within seconds, the sound of a loud crash filled the area. The couple ran outside to see what happened.
“I just didn’t know if they needed any help or if anybody was hurt or whatever. So, I did make my way up to behind the police officers’ vehicles to just see if there was something I could do. That’s when I realized it was my mother’s car that was in the wreck,” Wright said. “But until the officer’s flashlight hit my mother’s face, then I realized what was going on.”
Wright didn’t see his stepfather at first. Frank Atchison had been thrown from the vehicle but still walked over to help, despite his severe injuries.
The Atchisons suffered multiple broken bones and were taken to separate hospitals.
As Wright rushed to be with his mother, he says he called his aunt and uncle, Debra and Dale Cunningham, to let them know about the crash. Despite Wright telling them to stay home, the two headed to the hospital anyway.
Then, more heartbreak for the family.
“Within five minutes, I received a phone call from my aunt, crying that they had been in a wreck and that she thought my Uncle Dale had had a heart attack,” Wright said. “They wasn’t just but a couple minutes from the hospital, so I jumped in my vehicle. When I get there, my uncle had already passed away.”
Wright says his family is going through a lot of pain and hurt, but they’re blessed that his mom and stepdad are going to be OK. Frank Atchison was expected to be released from the hospital last Friday, but Wright says his mom has a long road to recovery.
Wright also says he wants to thank the first responders for their quick response and help.
After the crash, Brown was taken to the hospital, where he died. Deputies say he was wanted on multiple warrants.
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