Two charged in Greene County street racing accident

Alabama State Troopers have charged both Maurice Devonte Wedgeworth, 22, of Eutaw and Clyde Lawson, 27, of Harvest with three counts of Manslaughter and one count of Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Injuries in connection with the recent traffic crash in Greene County that claimed three lives and injured nine others. Wedgeworth and Lawson are both being held in the Greene County jail. Bond has not yet been set.

Original Story:

A two-vehicle crash at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 26, claimed three lives and injured nine others. Rodney Hutton, 30; Jalesa Kiara Merritt, 22; and Jhayden Pippen, 3, all of Eutaw, were killed when they were struck by a 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass driven by Maurice Devonte Wedgeworth, 22, also of Eutaw. Hutton and Pippen were both transported to Greene County Hospital where they were pronounced dead. Merritt was airlifted to DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa, where she was pronounced dead.

Nine others including children ages 6, 7 and 9 received medical treatment from area hospitals.

The preliminary investigation indicates a street race between the Oldsmobile Cutlass and a Chevrolet Monte Carlo was taking place at the time of the crash. Both drivers left the scene of the crash. Wedgeworth was taken into custody shortly before midnight Saturday, after he turned himself in to Alabama State Troopers at a local hospital.

Wedgeworth is being held at the Greene County Jail pending further investigation. Troopers also have taken the driver of the Chevrolet into custody in Huntsville, and he is being transported back to Greene County.

The crash occurred on Greene County 231 approximately two miles north of Eutaw. The investigation is in the early stages; therefore, nothing further is available as Troopers continue to investigate.

The West Alabama Watchman will update this story as more information becomes available.