By By Adam Prestridge
Sunday night, the Alabama State Troopers Office released the names of the two people killed in a head-on collision Friday near Perdido.
According to state trooper spokesman Cpl. Joe Piggott, Dwight Eugene Nichols, 74, and his wife, Wilma Ellavan Nichols, 77, of Atmore were identified as the victims of the deadly crash, which occurred a mile and a half from the Escambia County line in Baldwin County.
According to reports issued by the State Troopers Office, George Hauer, 58, of Flomaton was traveling north on Hwy. 31 in a black 2006 Toyota 4-Runner when his vehicle collided head-on with a white Mercedes E320 occupied by the Nichols' headed southbound just south of County Road 61. Upon arrival, rescue personnel worked several minutes trying to extricate victims in both vehicles using the Jaws of Life and immediately dispatched Life Flight to the scene.
Hauer and the driver and passenger of the Mercedes were all three airlifted to local hospitals. Dwight Nichols and Wilma Nichols died a short time later. Hauer's condition is still unknown.
Witnesses at the scene of the crash stated that the two vehicles collided head-on at speeds of approximately 70 mph. Upon impact, the Mercedes, which had a Baldwin County license plate, spun around and rested in the north bound lane facing north. The 4-Runner also spun, rolled over one time and rested in a nearby ditch upright. The impact of the crash was so powerful that hundreds of pieces of the two vehicles were scattered several hundred feet along the roadway.
Emergency crews from Escambia and Baldwin counties were dispatched to the scene to assist in rescue efforts. Crews included the Baldwin County Sheriff's Department, two Life Flight helicopters, Perdido Volunteer Fire Department, Bay Minette Fire Department, Kelley's Ambulance Service, Medstar Ambulance and McCullough Volunteer Fire Department. Four Alabama State Troopers were also needed to work the deadly accident scene.
It was unknown whether anyone was wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, Piggott said. He also stated that alcohol is not suspected to have been a factor in the wreck and no charges were filed Friday.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.