Crash claims life of Century boy
By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Daniel Graham, a 7-year-old Century, Fla. child, lost his life in a four-vehicle crash that happened Sunday, November 24, on Interstate 65 when an apparently speeding vehicle crashed into the rear of the vehicle in which he was riding.
According to Alabama State Trooper reports, the youngster was killed when the 2007 Chevrolet Colorado in which he was a passenger was struck from behind by a 2014 Jeep Wrangler driven by William Farris, 20, of Pensacola, Fla., around 1:41 p.m. Sunday afternoon.
Daniel, a first grader at Byrneville Elementary School, was taken to Evergreen Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
A spokesman for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Evergreen post said charges against Farris, who was also injured and was also transported to Evergreen Medical Center, are pending the outcome of the investigation into the fatality.
Daniel’s mother, 30-year-old April Graham of Century, reportedly noticed the Jeep rapidly approaching her vehicle and tapped her brakes several times to alert him that she was in front of him. He either did not see or did not react to her attempts to avoid the collision.
“We do not have a speed yet but remember when you are coming to a stop or are stopped on the interstate and a vehicle behind you is running 70, it is a high rate of speed,” said Sgt. Derek Gessner. “(The accident investigation results) will be presented to the grand jury for charges, (but) we have none at this time.”
Calls to the Byrneville Elementary office went unanswered, as the school is closed this week for Thanksgiving, but Mrs. Graham, who was not injured in the crash, shared on Facebook the grief she and her husband, Troy, are experiencing.
“We really have no words at this time,” the substitute teacher wrote. “Our hearts are just shattered, and we don’t know how to mend them or (how to) keep pushing forward without our sweet angel. That’s what he was and always will be.”
A 2017 Chrysler Pacifica driven by Philippe Abrigo, 66, of Orange Park Fla. and a 2013 Ford F-250 driven by Michael Callens, 55, of Birmingham received minor damage in the crash, which occurred at the interstate’s 96.4-mile marker, a mile west of Evergreen.
No further details are available as troopers continue their investigation into the fatal mishap.