Valley Grande, AL (May 17, 2026) – A passenger died, and two other people were injured after a vehicle crashed and overturned on Saturday afternoon, May 16, in Perry County. The accident happened around 3 p.m. on Alabama State Route 219 near mile marker 12, about eight miles north of Valley Grande.
According to state troopers, the vehicle left the roadway, struck a culvert, and overturned. Authorities identified the victim as 68-year-old Robert L. Perkins, who was riding as a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the crash.
First responders pronounced Perkins dead at the scene. The driver and a second passenger both suffered injuries and were transported to a hospital in Selma for treatment.
Traffic in the area was impacted while emergency crews responded and investigators documented the scene. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Highway Patrol Division.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and loved ones of Robert L. Perkins, and we are thinking of those injured during their recovery.
What Is Commonly Reviewed in Rural Roadway Rollover Crashes?
Rollover crashes on rural highways are often investigated by reviewing how and why a vehicle left the roadway. Investigators typically examine speed, steering input, and roadway conditions leading up to the crash.
When a vehicle strikes a culvert or roadside structure, the impact angle and damage patterns can help reconstruct the sequence of events. Terrain near the roadway may also influence how a vehicle overturns after leaving the pavement.
In single-vehicle crashes, officials may review visibility, road surface conditions, and mechanical factors. Injury severity is also commonly influenced by the number of rollovers and the area of impact inside the vehicle.
