Woman killed in crash into church where boyfriend died days earlier, police say

ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) - Two people have died after their vehicles crashed into the same church just days apart from each other, Alabama authorities said.

According to Riverside police, authorities received a call just before 1:30 a.m. Thursday for a fire at the Riverside Baptist Church.

Officials say a vehicle crashed into the building. By the time emergency crews arrived to the church, it had already been destroyed by the fire.

Riverside police say after the flames were extinguished, investigators determined there was a body inside the car.

Authorities say it appeared that the victim, identified by Riverside police as 19-year-old Anthony Banks Jr., left the roadway on a sharp curve before crashing into the church.

Several days later, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency says at around 12:53 a.m. Sunday morning, another vehicle crashed into a brick wall before catching fire.

The woman in the car, 19-year-old Jennefer L. Arellano-Maldonado, was attempting to elude Riverside police when the crash happened, according to officials.

The Riverside Police Department confirmed on Monday that the crash happened at the same location where Banks died on Thursday morning.

Arellano-Maldonado was Banks’ girlfriend.

Police say the vehicle Arellano-Maldonado was in was stolen from her aunt.

As of Monday afternoon, authorities say it is still not known if the incident was intentional or an accident.

Harry Sweener said he witnessed the aftermath of the fire at the scene.

“The church is really nice. It was a nice church. I hate to see it the way it is because I hope they rebuild it,” Sweener said. “I hope they can rebuild it and make this as nice as it was because it’s a real pretty church.”

Riverside Mayor Rusty Jessup says the church, which is almost 100 years old, was unfortunately destroyed in the fire.

The church has touched the lives of many people, and while many are sad, a new church will be built, Jessup added.

The investigations are ongoing.

Copyright 2024 WBRC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.