PHOTO: The woman was struck in the westbound lane of Highway 35 in front of Chick-Fil-A. (Tyler Pruett | Southern Torch)
By Tyler Pruett, Managing Editor
FORT PAYNE, Ala. — (Updated on October 3, 2017: 2:08 pm) Last a night, a woman was hit by a truck on Glenn Boulevard (Highway 35) in Fort Payne. The incident occurred in the west bound lane in front of Chick-Fil-A.
According to the Fort Payne Police Department, the woman was struck by a 2016 Toyota Tundra at around 9:10 pm. The incident remains under investigation.
According to the DeKalb County Ambulance Service the victim, whose name has not been released, was transported to DeKalb Regional Medical Center, where she was flown by helicopter to Huntsville Hospital. The victim is reportedly from Nesbit, Mississippi.
According to sources, the woman was pronounced dead on arrival at Huntsville hospital.
A short while ago, the Fort Payne Police Department released a statement on the incident, identifying the deceased as Mary Delana Austin, age 40 of Nesbit, MS.:
"On Monday night October 2nd at approximately 9:10 pm a vehicle struck a pedestrian on Glenn Blvd in the area of 1st Southern State Bank. A vehicle traveling north toward Rainsville, pulling a small utility trailer spilled some items on the roadway. The vehicle turned around and the passenger, Mary Delana Austin, age 40 of Nesbit, MS., got out of the vehicle to retrieve the items and was struck by a vehicle traveling toward Rainsville.
Austin was transported by DeKalb Ambulance Service to Dekalb Regional were she was flown to Huntsville Hospital by Air Evac where she later died from the injuries she sustained from the accident.
A witness and the driver of the vehicle Austin was traveling in both stated the vehicle was sitting in the turn lane with the head lights on high beam. The witness stated the lights were blinding to oncoming traffic. The investigation continues, but appears there will be no criminal charges filed as it was an unfortunate accident. Chief Bynum would like to thank the Dekalb County Sherriff’s Department for assisting with traffic."
