Crime & Safety

Northport Woman Charged With Manslaughter For Crash That Killed Berry Mother

A Northport woman has been charged with manslaughter following an August wreck near the Samantha community that killed a mother of two.

The scene of the fatal crash on Aug. 4, 2022 on Highway 43 near John Swindle Road
The scene of the fatal crash on Aug. 4, 2022 on Highway 43 near John Swindle Road (Ryan Phillips, Patch.com)

NORTHPORT, AL — A Northport woman has been charged with manslaughter following an August wreck near the Samantha community that killed a Fayette County mother and injured her two children.

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According to a deposition filed this week in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court, an Alabama Law Enforcement Agency state trooper said Zoe Raine Moore, 25, was driving a 2018 Hyundai Elantra around 1 p.m. on the day of the crash — Aug. 4, 2022 — and traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 43 near John Swindle Road.

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Investigators believe Moore crossed the center line of the two-lane highway and continued traveling north in the southbound lane.

While driving on the wrong side of the busy highway, Moore collided head-on with a 2000 Toyota Camry which troopers said was being "properly driven" by Tiffiney Nicole Barger, 41, of Berry.

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As Patch previously reported, Barger suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, while both of her minor children also sustained serious injuries.

Moore was also injured in the crash, but the extent of her injuries has not been made public at this time.

ALEA alleges that Moore's actions before and at the time of the crash indicate that she was the primary contributing driver.

What's more, the deposition said a forensic analysis of toxicological samples collected from Moore and analyzed by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences showed that she was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the collision.

Investigators also pointed out that forensic analysis of Moore's cell phone records revealed that she was distracted by her phone while driving, which is believed to have been a serious contributing factor in the crash.


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