Alabama Deputy, Three Teens Killed in Crash

Officials Monday morning identified the victims of a crash that killed four people on Firetower Road in Wetumpka on Sunday.

According to a press release from Sgt. Steve Jarrett of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, "Austin Ryan Augustine, 16, of Wetumpka was killed when the 2003 Infinity G35 he was driving collided head-on with a 2013 Elmore County Sheriff's Office Dodge Charger patrol car.

"The Elmore County deputy, the sole occupant of the patrol car, James Bart Hart, 50, was killed. Two passengers in the Infinity also were killed. Passengers Dylan Adler Bieber, 16, and Hoyt Elliot Hardin, 16, both of Wetumpka, were killed in the collision. Passenger Nicholas Benjamin, 16, of Eclectic was the lone survivor in the crash.

"Benjamin was transported from the scene by medical helicopter to Baptist Medical Center South with what appeared to be life-threatening injuries. Preliminary investigation indicates that only Deputy Hart and Nicholas Benjamin were using seat belts," the release said.

Elmore County Superintendent Jeff Langham said the gym of Wetumpka High School will be used from 6 to 7 p.m. as a gathering place for students and families to have time together. Local ministers, school counselors, teachers and other school and community personnel will be available. The three teens went to Wetumpka High.

"There are no words to describe this devastating loss here in our community," Langham said. "Our prayers and support are with the families and friends of all the victims of this unimaginable tragedy."

Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin said the accident happened at about 7:45 p.m. Sunday on Firetower Road in Wetumpka.

Hart had been with the sheriff's office for five years, having retired from the Montgomery Fire Department, Franklin. He started in the county jail as a corrections officer. That's standard procedure before a deputy moves to the patrol division.

"It's cliche to say 'I wish I had 50 more like him,' " Franklin said. " but I wish I had 50 more like him. In those five years we never had a complaint against Deputy Hart, not even when he was in the jail."

In the almost 24 years that Franklin has been sheriff, this is the first officer he has lost in the line if duty.

"It's rough," he said. "A lot of people are hurting in Elmore County today. Our prayers go out to Bart's family and the families of the boys."

Hart was on patrol on Firetower Road, where he had just answered a call on Redland Downs Road where someone had hit a deer.

"Not two minutes later we got the call on the wreck," Franklin said. "We dispatched him because we knew he was closest. We couldn't get him on the radio so we knew something was wrong.

"The first call came in as a single vehicle wreck. They didn't see our car. It was down in the woods. The second call reporting the wreck said our patrol car was in the ditch"

Details are limited as Alabama State Troopers and the Elmore County Sheriff's Office are still investigating the accident. Franklin said it appears a white Infinity occupied by four teenagers skidded onto the pathway of the deputy's vehicle and the two collided.

Franklin said the deputy was on routine patrol at the time of the accident.

Tribune News Service