HOUSTON COUNTY, Ala. — A man is dead after being struck by a vehicle along a busy highway in Houston County on Friday night, and two suspects, a Henry County couple, now face multiple charges in connection with the incident.
The fatal crash occurred at the intersection of Burdeshaw Road and U.S. 431 in Kinsey. Authorities have identified the victim as 32-year-old Matthew Edward Cook from Griffin, Georgia.
According to witnesses at the scene, Cook was walking his bike and was not on the road, but rather in the grassy median, when he was hit by a large pickup truck. The driver of the truck was later identified as Carin Chavers, who, along with her husband, Phillip Chavers, was in the vehicle at the time of the accident.
Witnesses immediately began to follow the truck and managed to capture a photo of the vehicle’s license plate, which they sent to police. Officers were able to trace the vehicle back to the Chavers’ residence, where they found the truck parked outside.
When questioned by authorities, Carin Chavers initially claimed that she had been driving the truck but was unsure of what she had struck. Further investigation revealed that Carin had lied about driving the vehicle in an attempt to protect her husband’s job.
Phillip Chavers was later arrested at the couple’s home. Authorities offered him the opportunity to make a statement, but Phillip requested legal representation before proceeding. He was subsequently charged with resisting arrest, making a false report, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, and obstruction of justice. He remains in custody at the Houston County Jail without bond.
Carin Chavers, meanwhile, was charged with obstruction of justice, resisting arrest, and making a false report to law enforcement. She was able to bond out of jail the following morning.
Court records indicate that Phillip Chavers has a history of minor traffic violations, including speeding tickets in Barbour County. However, there have been no indications of any prior criminal offenses related to the current charges.
The case has now been referred to the Houston County District Attorney’s Office, where additional charges may be added as the investigation continues. Cook’s body has been sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Montgomery for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the scene on Friday night, and the Kinsey Police Department is leading the investigation. Authorities have pledged to pursue all appropriate legal action in connection with this tragic incident.
As the case unfolds, the community remains in shock over the loss of Cook and the subsequent legal developments involving the Chavers.
