SIMCOE, AL — A Cullman woman died Thursday afternoon in a multivehicle crash at the intersection of Alabama Highway 69 and County Road 747 in the Simcoe community, according to Alabama State Troopers.
Cullman County Coroner Jeremy Kilpatrick identified the victim as 73-year-old Malinda E. Chandler. Troopers said the wreck happened around 1 p.m. and that Chandler was driving a 2015 Hyundai Sonata when the collision unfolded.
Investigators said the Hyundai was first struck by a 2012 Ford Focus driven by 39-year-old Brandi N. McFadden of Cullman. After that initial impact, a 2003 Ford F-250 driven by 23-year-old Austin D. Johnson of Baileyton also hit the Hyundai.
Troopers say Chandler was not wearing a seat belt
State troopers said Chandler was not using a seat belt when the crash occurred. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
No other injuries were listed in the information released Thursday, and officials did not immediately say whether the other drivers were hurt. The details released focused on the sequence of the collision and Chandler’s death.
Seat belt use is often a key question in serious highway crashes because it can affect how badly someone is hurt in a collision. In this case, troopers specifically noted that Chandler was unrestrained at the time of the wreck.
The crash happened at a busy rural intersection in Simcoe
The wreck took place where Highway 69 meets County Road 747, a crossing that serves traffic through the Simcoe area in northern Cullman County. The location puts the crash on a state highway that carries regular local and through traffic.
Troopers did not say what may have led to the Ford Focus striking Chandler’s Hyundai or what conditions were like at the time of the crash. They also did not release any information about speed, weather, or road hazards.
Even without those details, the intersection setting shows how a routine turn or lane movement can turn dangerous quickly when multiple vehicles are involved.
What investigators identified about each driver
Authorities identified the driver of the Ford Focus as Brandi N. McFadden, 39, of Cullman, and the driver of the Ford F-250 as Austin D. Johnson, 23, of Baileyton. Troopers said both vehicles were involved after the Hyundai was first hit.
The release did not say whether either driver received citations or faced charges. It also did not say which direction each vehicle was traveling before the crash.
For now, the publicly released facts are limited to the identity of the people involved, the sequence of impacts, and the fatal result for Chandler.
Coroner and state troopers released the early details
Kilpatrick’s identification of Chandler came as state troopers continued to piece together the crash. The information from the coroner and troopers together provides the basic outline of what happened: one vehicle struck another, then a third vehicle hit the same car.
That kind of multi-impact crash can leave investigators working through vehicle positions, damage patterns, and witness statements to determine exactly how the chain reaction began. Officials have not released those findings yet.
The timing of the update, released Friday morning, suggests the investigation remained active after the Thursday afternoon collision.
A deadly reminder for drivers on county roads and highways
The fatal wreck adds another heartbreaking traffic death to Cullman County and highlights the risks that can come with busy intersections on state highways. When several vehicles are moving through the same crossing, a single mistake can have fatal consequences.
At this point, authorities have not announced any broader safety changes tied to the crash. The focus remains on identifying the cause, documenting the sequence of events, and notifying those affected.
For Chandler’s family and the communities connected to Cullman, Baileyton, and Simcoe, the crash turned an ordinary Thursday afternoon into a sudden loss that investigators say happened in seconds.
Local news that matters, from Dulaney Griffin.
