A tragic traffic crash in Lee County has claimed the life of an Opelika woman, days after she was critically injured in a two-vehicle collision. The incident happened late Saturday morning and has left family members and the local community mourning another life lost on a busy highway.
According to authorities, the crash occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, along U.S. Highway 280 near the 103 mile marker. The location is about two miles west of Opelika, an area known for steady traffic throughout the day. Emergency crews were quickly dispatched to the scene after reports of a serious collision involving two vehicles.
Officials said 81-year-old Betty E. Burke of Opelika was driving a 2015 Hyundai Sonata when her vehicle collided with a 2021 GMC Yukon. The Yukon was being driven by 37-year-old Jarrod M. Thorne of Waverly Hall, Georgia. Details about how the crash happened have not yet been released as the investigation remains ongoing.
Burke suffered critical injuries in the crash and was rushed to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hospital for emergency medical treatment. Despite doctors’ efforts, her condition worsened over the following days. On Monday, Dec. 22, Burke sadly succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead, authorities confirmed.
The driver of the GMC Yukon has not been reported as seriously injured, and no charges or citations have been announced at this time. Alabama Law Enforcement Agency troopers have not said whether speed, road conditions, or other factors may have contributed to the crash. Officials noted that more information will be released once the investigation is complete.
Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Highway Patrol Division are continuing to investigate the deadly crash. As the investigation moves forward, Burke’s death serves as a painful reminder of how quickly lives can be changed by traffic accidents. Friends, loved ones, and the Opelika community are now left grieving the loss of an elderly woman whose life ended following a devastating moment on the roadway.
