Fatal wreck under investigation after bullet hole discovered

Published 4:34 pm Tuesday, June 30, 2015

The Crenshaw County Sheriff’s Office is investigating whether or not foul play was involved in a wreck that claimed a man’s life Saturday afternoon.

“We have found a bullet hole in the vehicle and we’re looking into it at this time, but we don’t know if the bullet hole had anything to do with the crash,” said Sheriff Mickey Powell.

Joseph Tyler Bailey, 28, of Holly Pond, was killed in a single-car crash on Norman Road, 12 miles north of Luverne, according to a media release from Alabama State Trooper Kevin Cook. The incident occurred at 1:05 p.m. when the 1999 Buick Park Avenue Bailey was driving left the roadway, struck an embankment and overturned.

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Bailey, who was not using a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene by Crenshaw County Coroner Ronnie Turner.

Powell said his office was investigating the wreck after a bullet hole was found on the vehicle. Investigators are still waiting on an autopsy to determine if Bailey was shot before his Buick crashed.

“Right now, we don’t know whether the bullet hole had anything to do with the crash,” Powell said.

He said investigators could not determine whether the vehicle had been pierced with gunfire the day of the wreck or the bullet hole had been the product of an unrelated incident.

Investigators canvassed the area for witnesses and questioned those who knew Bailey.

“We’re still out interviewing folks at this time,” Powell said Tuesday. “We’re trying to put a timeframe together.”