Fairhope Woman Killed In U.S. 98 Collision Victim Identified As 72-Year-Old Nelly Martinez Nelson

mobile registe, Feb 28, 2005

FAIRHOPE -- Fairhope resident Nelly Martinez Nelson, 72, died Thursday as a result of injuries sustained in an early morning traffic accident on U.S. 98, near the Rock Creek subdivision in Fairhope, authorities said.

According to witnesses, Nelson was trying shortly after 8 a.m. to cross the northbound lane of U.S. 98 at Presbyterian Drive in an attempt to make a left-hand turn into the southbound lane, when a 2005 full-size GMC Sierra pickup truck struck the driver's 

The force of the collision sent the car sliding about 50 yards across the grassy median over the southbound lanes onto the shoulder. Shortly after the accident the truck with its front end crushed in all the way to the front wheels sat in the median, next to the Jaguar's front driver's side wheel that apparently snapped off while skidding across the road.

Nelson was transported by ambulance to Thomas Hospital in Fairhope and pronounced dead shortly after arriving, Fairhope Cpl. Craig Sawyer said.

The driver of the pickup, 38-year-old Ruffin Sage Blackwell, and his 5-year-old son, both of Fairhope, were treated and released from the hospital, Sawyer said.

Sgt. James David of the Fair hope Police Department Traffic Collision Investigation Unit said in a press release that Blackwell and his son avoided serious injuries because they were wearing seat belts.

David added in the release that the father and son appeared bruised from the seat belts and airbags.

Nelson was also wearing a seat belt and had other air-bag protection, but the force of the collision was too severe, according to the release.

"Both the front airbags as well as driver's-side airbag, which is just over the left shoulder, deployed (in Nelson's car) but didn't seem to be enough," Sawyer said.

Sawyer said it doesn't appear that the collision involved speeding and no charges are anticipated.

"Honestly, it looks like she misjudged the truck and the speed," Sawyer said. "We are thinking that is the cause of the accident."

Following the crash, the southbound lanes of U.S. 98 were closed for about 35 minutes while emergency crews waited for word on LifeFlight-Mobile air ambulance service, which couldn't fly due to the inclement weather, Sawyer said.

Don Dickey, of Larkspur, Colo., who is a medic, witnessed the accident and said Nelson was not responsive when authorities arrived.

"She had a crushed hip and ankles, and broken legs," Dick ey said. "She suffered massive internal injuries."

John Gammer of Fairhope, who said he was behind Nelson when she pulled out into traffic, said the road was recently connected to the Rock Creek subdivision and that it is a dangerous spot.

"I use it a lot more now," said Gammer, a resident of the Sandy Ford subdivision, which is next to Rock Creek. "But you have to be real careful."

The site of the accident is just south of Rock Creek Parkway where a light was installed about two years ago, Sawyer said. Prior to the addition of the light, accidents were a regular occurrence there, according to fire department members at the scene.