Early Wednesday morning, a heartbreaking crash claimed the life of a 69-year‑old Guntersville woman and left a 29‑year‑old Dawson woman injured. The Guntersville Police Department is now piecing together exactly what happened at the busy intersection of U.S. Highway 431 and Buck Island Drive.
At about 7:53 a.m., officers raced to the scene after reports of a serious two‑vehicle collision. Investigators say a 2024 Mazda CX‑50, driven by Alexis Lauren Taylor‑Boll of Guntersville, attempted to turn onto Highway 431 heading south, when she collided with a 2017 Jeep Wrangler driven by Chelsy Morgan Barnes of Dawson. The Jeep had been traveling northbound on the highway.
The force of impact was devastating. Taylor‑Boll was pronounced dead at the scene; authorities confirmed she suffered fatal injuries and could not be revived. Barnes, though shaken and hurt, was alive — she was rushed to Huntsville Hospital in stable condition, where she remains under care while officers continue to investigate.
Multiple local agencies converged on the scene: the Guntersville Fire Department, Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, Marshall Medical Services ambulance crews, and the Marshall County Coroner’s Office all assisted. The Guntersville Police Department’s Traffic Investigations Unit has assumed primary responsibility for reconstructing the crash and determining what exactly led to that tragic moment.
While officials have held back on releasing more sensitive details — such as speed, road conditions, or witness statements — they have extended deep sympathy to Taylor‑Boll’s family and friends, recognizing that no number of reports or photographs can truly capture the loss. They’ve also urged drivers to remain extra vigilant, especially when navigating intersections along Highway 431 where visibility, timing, and split-second decisions can make all the difference.
The investigation is still open and active. Officials say any new findings — whether from dashcam footage, witness interviews, or forensic reconstruction — will be shared as they become available. For now, the community mourns a life lost too soon, prays for the recovery of Barnes, and hopes that lessons drawn from this crash may prevent future tragedies.