Four killed in separate weekend accidents

Published 8:55 am Wednesday, August 6, 2008

By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



It was a deadly weekend on area roads as four people were killed in two separate accidents in north Jefferson County.

The first accident happened Sunday, shortly after 12:30 a.m. in Brookside. Sgt. Randy Christian of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 22-year-old Chad McDonald of Mt. Olive, was traveling east on Cherry Avenue when it left the road and struck a utility pole.

There were two other passengers riding up front with McDonald and four passengers riding in the bed of the truck.

One of the passengers, 15-year-old Cody Gooch of Brookside, was also killed in the wreck. Gooch was reportedly riding in the bed of the truck.

The remaining passengers, which ranged in age from 14 to 19, were all transported to Trinity and UAB hospitals. Their conditions were unknown as of press time.

Christian said none of the occupants in the truck were wearing seat belts.

“We are conducting a traffic fatality investigation and are trying to determine if alcohol played a factor,” Christian said.

The second accident reportedly happened shortly after 11 p.m. when a car driven by Johnny McCurty, 40, of Center Point, left the roadway on Carson Road in Fultondale, west of Indian Valley Road.

McCurty and a 62-year-old passenger, Shirley Hood of Birmingham, were taken to UAB Hospital where they later died.

Four children riding in the backseat of the vehicle were reportedly taken to Children’s Hospital for injuries. There was no word on their condition.

Gooch’s death is the second tragedy to strike Gardendale High School in less than a month. Senior Katie Burkett was killed on July 20 in a one-car accident near Calera.

Gooch would have started his sophomore year on Aug. 13. School principal Dr. Anna Vacca said she has invited counselors to be at the school on the first day for any student who needs it.

“That’s the sad part about it; you hope you never go through it,” Vacca said. “To go through it twice in two weeks’ time is unbelievable.”