A rear end car accident near Madison, AL in Limestone County has sadly claimed the life of Stephen Lee Shankle, 21, of Decatur. According to an article by Victoria Cumbow in the Huntsville Times, the wreck happened on US Hwy 72 just four miles west of Madison. Shankle was a passenger in a vehicle being driven by Emily Barnes of Athens. Ms. Barnes' vehicle was rear ended by a vehicle being driven by David Kohlhoff of Madison. The impact between the Kohlhoff and Barnes vehicles was severe enough that it pushed Barnes' vehicle into the vehicle in front of it that was being driven by Ira Oden of Athens. Barnes along with a second passenger Sarah Maddox of Capshaw were treated at Huntsville Hospital. The initial investigation indicates that Barnes and Oden were stopped at the time they were struck.
The news report does not indicate what caused Kohlhoff to strike the rear of Barnes car. It is likely that this accident may have been caused by Kohlhoff being distracted. Approximately 448,000 people were injured in automobile accidents in 2009 that were caused by distracted driving.
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