BRIAN BLACKLEY

Staff Writers

Oct. 18, 2000 10 PM

BRUNDIDGE – A Troy man was killed in a two-vehicle accident Tuesday afternoon.

Thomas Manning Lang, 46, of Troy died in the accident at 3:40 p.m. on U.S. 231, one mile south of Brundidge, Alabama State Troopers reported.

The accident apparently occurred when Lang’s southbound 1991 Chevrolet moved into northbound lane and struck an oncoming 1992 Oldsmobile driven by John Thomas James, 66, of Luverne.

Lang’s vehicle was struck on the front driver’s side, ejecting Lang from the vehicle. He was not wearing a seatbelt, Troopers said, a factor which contributed to his ejection from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead by Pike County Coroner Jerry Williams.

A spokesperson for the Alabama State Troopers said a seatbelt "was available" in Lang’s vehicle.

Williams reported the cause of death appeared to be "blunt force trauma."

An official cause of death will be determined by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, said Williams.

The accident scene was a grim one, Williams said.

"I have never seen a vehicle that damaged since I have been coroner," he said of Lang’s vehicle.

James was traveling north with three passengers when the accident occurred and all were transported to Edge Regional Medical Center by Haynes Ambulance Service, Troopers reported.

Injured were James, Mamie Fillman, 65, and Lena Bryant, 68, all of Luverne. None of the three injured people sustained life-threatening wounds.

Several units worked the scene in the aftermath of the wreck and served to divert traffic along 231 as they investigated the scene. A number of officers responded, including the Brundidge Police Department and the Pike County Sheriff’s Department. Brundidge police notified the Troopers of the accident, a Trooper spokesperson said.

Trooper Jackie Hornsby worked the accident.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation by the Alabama State Troopers post in Dothan.