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According to Alabama State Troopers, Winnie Sue Prince of County Road 525, Moulton was killed when her 1993 Toyota pickup truck collided with a Dodge Durango about three miles east of Moulton at about 11 a.m. Prince Troop who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the other vehicle and three other passengers were all air lifted to Huntsville hospital. Their conditions are unknown at this time. The investigation is ongoing however, the Moulton Advisor reports that “A small black pickup truck was stopped in the east bound lane going the wrong way and a small SUV was off the roadway on the east-bound side.

Currently Alabama seat belt law is one of if not the most lax in the nation. Failing to wear a seat belt is now treated as a primary offense, but the penalty is just a small fine for first time offenders of $25. Those not in the front seat, including those 15 and over riding in the back of a pickup truck are not required to wear a seat belt.

As previously reported, according to http://www.cdc.gov/Motorvehiclesafety/seatbeltbrief/, “More than half of the people killed in car crashes were not restrained at the time of the crash.1 Wearing a seat belt is the most effective way to prevent death and serious injury in a crash.

Seat belt use is on the rise. Laws, education, and technology have increased seat belt use from 11% in 19812 to nearly 85% in 20103, saving hundreds of thousands of lives. Yet, about 1 in 7 people still don’t buckle up.”