The Selma Times-Journal

A nine-year-old Wilcox County girl is dead as a result of a July 4 car accident.

Jakesha Wilks of Boykin was killed after the vehicle she was traveling in veered off Wilcox County Road 29 and crashed into a tree, said Alabama State Trooper John Reese, public information officer.

Jakesha’s mother – 29-year-old Latoya Wilks James – was behind the steering wheel and apparently traveling at a high rate of speed, Reese said. Jakesha’s siblings, J’Michael Wilks, 7, Ronnie James, 5, and Crystal James, 2, were also in the vehicle.

While the injuries and conditions of Latoya and J’Michael are unknown, Ronnie and Crystal are currently in the intensive care unit at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Fla.

The accident occurred at approximately 11:55 a.m. Tuesday, Reese said.

In neighboring Chilton County, two people died after a head on collision on Alabama Highway 22.

Karen Goggins, 51, of Clanton and Jimmy Albert Sheperd Jr., 21, of Clanton were instantly killed after their car crossed into the opposite lane and collided with another vehicle at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. Goggins and Sheperd were in a 2002 Pontiac and struck a 2005 Mercury. As for the passengers in the Mercury, “I don’t have any information on the other parties involved, but they were injured,” Reese said.

Reese reported no highway accidents in Dallas County during the July 4 travel period, which started June 30 at 6 p.m. and ended at midnight Tuesday.

Wilks, Goggins and Sheperd are three of 16 people killed in July 4 roadway accidents throughout the state. Other accident fatalities were reported in Macon, Baldwin, Walker, Elmore, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Talladega, Cleburne and Butler counties.