49-year-old man dead after chase, crash in Forestdale

FORESTDALE, Ala. (WBRC) - A man is dead and two officers were injured following a vehicle chase and crash Tuesday morning in Forestdale, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office has identified the man as 49-year-old Henry Louis Wright, Jr. of Fairfield.

Deputies were assisting the U.S. Marshals Service in a vehicle pursuit shortly before 9:30 a.m. when the driver, now identified as Wright, wrecked near Haven Drive and Oakridge Drive.

After crashing his vehicle, Wright allegedly tried to run away from authorities. U.S. Marshals task force members chased Wright before they reportedly heard a gunshot. Wright was then found lying on the ground with what appeared to be an apparent gunshot wound. The coroner’s office described the gunshot wound as self-inflicted.

Medical assistance was requested, but Wright died at the scene, according to the sheriff’s office.

There were no shots fired by authorities, according to the sheriff’s office, and two officers were injured while running after the man. Their injuries were treated by Forestdale Fire, according to the chief of the fire department, though he didn’t specify what those injuries entailed.

Betty Smith lives near the crash site and said her neighborhood is usually very quiet. She said she did not hear anything, but was surprised to see the scene outside her window Tuesday morning.

“There were so many sheriffs, and the road was blocked off. I said, ‘Oh my goodness.’ I looked and said, ‘Oh, well, someone must have run into the ditch’ because this happens all the time,” said Smith.

The sheriff’s office said Wright was wanted on charges of first-degree rape and first-degree kidnapping.

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