On Saturday, January 17, 2026, just after 12:30 a.m., a single-vehicle crash in a rural part of Henry County, Alabama, claimed the life of a local man. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) responded to the scene on Henry County 99, near its intersection with Henry County 78, where a 2014 Chevrolet Impala had left the roadway.
According to the preliminary investigation conducted by ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division, the vehicle, driven by 33-year-old Christopher L. Barron of Headland, was traveling on County Road 99 when it departed the right side of the road. After leaving the pavement, the car struck a supporting guy wire for a utility pole. The impact with the wire caused the vehicle to become unstable, sending it into a ditch before it overturned.
A critical finding from the troopers was that Christopher Barron was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash. The force of the collision and subsequent rollover caused him to be ejected from the vehicle. The investigation concluded that he died from injuries sustained during the ejection and the violent overturning of the car.
Emergency medical services and other first responders were dispatched to the location. Despite their efforts, Barron was pronounced deceased at the scene of the accident on County Road 99. No other vehicles or individuals were reported to be involved in the incident.
ALEA stated that the crash remains under active investigation by their personnel. As part of standard procedure, troopers will continue to analyze the scene and evidence to finalize the official crash report. This report will be made available to the public once the investigation is concluded.
This tragic incident serves as a somber reminder of the critical importance of seatbelt use, especially on rural roads where high-speed impacts can have devastating consequences. The sudden loss has left the Headland community mourning the death of a resident in a preventable roadway tragedy.