Tuscaloosa Woman Charged With Manslaughter For Fatal Crash In Coaling

COALING, AL — A Tuscaloosa woman has been charged with manslaughter following a fatal head-on collision last week on U.S. Highway 11 that left another driver dead.

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According to a deposition filed in Tuscaloosa County District Court and obtained by Patch, 26-year-old Adelina Juan Francisco was arrested after investigators determined she was driving in oncoming traffic on Feb. 6 and had been drinking prior to the collision.

The wreck occurred at approximately 5:59 a.m. near 15705 U.S. Highway 11 in Coaling.

Authorities reported the crash involved a silver 2013 Toyota Sienna driven by Francisco and a silver 2003 Honda Accord driven by Luverne Lanett Chandler.

Chandler was pronounced dead at the scene.

A passenger in the Honda and Francisco were transported to DCH Regional Medical Center for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash.

Investigators stated in the deposition that oil trails from the damaged vehicles indicated Francisco’s vehicle had been traveling westbound in the eastbound lane at the time of impact. The oil trail from her vehicle reportedly began in the oncoming lane and led to its final resting position across the center line, approximately 50 to 75 feet from the point of impact.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency later advised that Francisco told a trooper she had consumed two “fruit beers” prior to the crash but could not remember details of the collision. Francisco reportedly stated she drank the beers around 11 p.m. the night before and remembered traveling about 55 mph before the crash.

The deposition also states troopers detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from Francisco upon contact. A handwritten supplement with the deposition notes that numerous broken bottles were observed inside the vehicle she was driving and that the odor of alcohol lingered inside the vehicle for an extended period.

Based on Francisco’s admission to drinking, the odor of alcohol, and physical evidence indicating she was driving in oncoming traffic at the time of the crash, investigators determined there was probable cause to charge her with manslaughter.

Francisco was transported to the Tuscaloosa County Jail and her bond is set at $50,000.

This is a developing story. Tuscaloosa Patch will have more information as it becomes available.