Fort Payne teen dies, another injured in car crash during police chase

A Fort Payne teen was killed early Saturday morning in a single-vehicle accident while being pursued by police in DeKalb County.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) identified the victim as 19-year-old Cody W. Ashley.

The crash happened at approximately 2:49 a.m. on DeKalb County 248, approximately two miles south of Fort Payne, according to ALEA’s release.

Ashley was fatally injured when the 2020 Nissan Maxima he was driving left the roadway, struck a utility pole, a tree and then overturned. Ashley was pronounced deceased at the scene. A 16-year-old passenger in the Nissan was injured and transported to an area hospital for treatment.

Ashley was being pursued by a police officer with the Fort Payne Police Department at the time of the crash, according to law enforcement officials. Authorities did not release information on the reason for the police pursuit.

The investigation is ongoing by troopers with ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division.

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