Calhoun County, AL : Three people injured in a crash in the Anniston/Saks area Tuesday afternoon, September 27, 2016

A high-speed pursuit ended in a crash that killed three people in the Anniston/Saks area of Calhoun County on Tuesday afternoon, Sheriff Larry Amerson confirmed.

The wreck involved two vehicles and shut down Old Gadsden Highway at Alexandria Road. As of 7:30 p.m., the roadway has reopened.

Shortly before 10 p.m., troopers identified the three victims as Melanie Brown Hurst, 39, Melanie Dawn Trantham, 43 and Joy Ann Howell, 74, all of Anniston.

Officials have not yet announced charges against the suspect in this case, who was airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham for treatment. Trooper Gary Daniel says the Calhoun County District Attorney will decide on what to charge the suspect after reviewing troopers' final investigation file.

State troopers say the wreck happened around 2:50 p.m.

Chief Deputy Matthew Wade said a deputy on his way home saw a pickup truck illegally passing people to run a light on North Noble Street in Anniston. The deputy then began to pursue the truck.

The pickup truck turned onto Old Gadsden Highway, hit a car head-on and killed all three women in the car, Wade said.

The deputy checked on that car, got the suspect out of the truck and the truck caught on fire. He and other deputies used fire extinguishers to get it under control until Anniston Fire arrived.

"As he was checking on the suspect, that vehicle caught fire, and he had to deploy his fire extinguisher. And that really wasn't enough, and other deputies had to come on the scene with fire extinguishers, and held the fire at bay of his vehicle, until the fire department could come on the scene and put that out," Wade said.

The pickup truck was stolen and the suspect was wanted for a burglary at the address where the truck was taken, Wade added.

State troopers are responding to the crash and will release more information as it becomes available.

Source :
Troopers identify 3 women killed after police pursuit ends in wreck in Calhoun County wreck