From Tribune staff reports
HOOVER — A fatal crash on Interstate 459 in Hoover left one person dead, another with serious injuries and two people in custody, according to the Hoover Police Department. Officials said the incident began with three vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed before the Friday morning crash.
The two in custody have now been charged with reckless murder.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased individual as Tamarion Burton, 19-years-old, of Jackson, Mississippi.
Hoover police said the facts of the case were presented to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office in Bessemer and the following warrants were issued against the suspects.
Tyrique M. Carter, 22,of Byram, MS., is charged with reckless murder with no bond, leaving the scene of an accident with injuries and attempting to elude. The last to charges carry a $21,000 bond.
Elisha Jamal Lindsey, 22, of Jackson, MS., is charged with reckless murder with no bond, attempting to elude with a $6,000 bond.
Both suspects are awaiting transfer from the Hoover City Jail to the Jefferson County Jail where they will be held without bond. The investigation remains ongoing and additional charges are expected to be filed in the coming days.
The section of the Code of Alabama charging the suspects with Murder are defined, in part below:
Murder – 13A-6-2
(a) A person commits the crime of murder if he or she does any of the following:
(2) Under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life, he or she recklessly engages in conduct which creates a grave risk of death to a person other than himself or herself, and thereby causes the death of another person.
Hoover police released a statement on Friday describing how events unfolded.
On Friday, February 9, 2024 at approximately 10:09 a.m., Hoover police were notified of a traffic crash that occurred on I-459 South near mile marker 13, which is near the exit for U.S. Highway 31, a statement from HPD said.
Witnesses described three vehicles driving at a high rate of speed on I-459. One of the vehicles, a Nissan Sentra, left the roadway and struck a tree. It is believed to have been struck by one of the other vehicles, causing it to leave the roadway.
One of the occupants inside the vehicle was pronounced deceased on the scene, and another occupant was transported by the Hoover Fire Department to a local hospital with what are believed to be serious injuries.
Descriptions of all the involved vehicles were provided by 911 callers and disseminated to patrol officers in Hoover and adjacent agencies.
A short time later a Hoover Police officer observed the other two vehicles believed to be involved traveling on John Hawkins Pkwy near Hunter Street. The officer attempted to stop the vehicles, but both fled, according to the statement.
One of the vehicles, a Jeep Cherokee, was involved in a single vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway 31 and I-459. One individual was taken into custody at that location without incident.
The other vehicle, a BMW M4, continued fleeing and was pursued by officers with several area agencies. That vehicle eventually stopped at a gas station on Morgan Road in Helena where one individual was taken into custody without incident.
Both suspects taken into custody are being held in the Hoover City Jail pending further investigation. The case will be presented to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office for consideration of formal charges.
“The information contained in this document is preliminary and is the only information available for release at this time,” HPD officials said. “Hoover Police traffic officers continue to investigate this case to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.”
The identities of any suspects in the case will be released after formal charges are obtained, as well as the identity of the deceased individual after notification to the next-of-kin is made.