WALKER COUNTY, AL — A violent collision last Friday afternoon claimed the life of 34-year-old Mason L. Wood, whose pickup truck left the roadway and erupted in flames in a remote area of Bennett Road. Alabama State Troopers confirmed the local resident’s identity Friday after forensic specialists completed their examination of the badly burned remains.
The tragedy unfolded around 4 p.m. when Wood’s 2019 Ford F-150 veered off the rural thoroughfare approximately eight miles north of Jasper, striking a tree with such force that the impact sparked an intense fire. Walker County first responders arrived to find the truck fully engulfed, with the blaze complicating both rescue efforts and the initial investigation. The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences required dental records to formally identify Wood due to the catastrophic damage.
ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division continues reconstructing the crash sequence, examining whether mechanical failure, medical emergency, or driver error caused the deadly departure from the roadway. “The steep embankment and dense tree line along this curve have claimed multiple lives over the years,” noted Corporal Reginal King, referencing at least three other fatal wrecks on this half-mile stretch since 2020. The road’s narrow shoulders and lack of guardrails remain persistent safety concerns for residents.
Wood’s sudden death has shaken the tight-knit Jasper community, where friends remember the construction worker as a devoted father who never missed his daughter’s softball games. A roadside memorial now marks the crash site, adorned with work boots and hunting gear reflecting Wood’s outdoor passions. Neighbors report frequently seeing Wood commute this route between his job site and home.
As investigators await toxicology results and vehicle diagnostic data, the Walker County Commission announced plans to evaluate safety improvements along Bennett Road. Meanwhile, Wood’s family has established a memorial fund through First National Bank of Jasper to support his surviving children. Authorities urge anyone who witnessed the crash or saw Wood’s truck prior to the incident to contact ALEA’s investigative line.
