staff report

VALLEY GRANDE &045; A local woman died after the car she was a passenger in left the road and hit a power pole.

Gena Garentino, a 34-year-old Valley Grande resident, was involved in a one-car accident on County Road 63 Tuesday evening around 3:55 p.m., according to the Alabama State Trooper’s Office.

According to the Trooper’s report, the 2002 Ford Taurus was traveling east bound on County Road 63 when it left the road and hit a power pole, splitting it from the base up.

Also traveling in the

vehicle were driver, Evelyn Hotard, who was reportedly injured, 34-year-old Nicole Webb and a nine-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy.

Alabama State Troopers, Emergystat Ambulance Service and Valley Grande and Summerfield Volunteer Fire Departments responded to the accident.

A front seat and backseat passenger were trapped in their seat belts and were rescued by volunteer firefighters.

One of the passengers was airlifted to a nearby hospital, according to Emergystat technicians. The transporting helicopter landed on Highway 22 in front of the Valley Grande Volunteer Fire Department.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.