Enterprise Man Stevie Duncan, 40, Killed in Head-On Collision on U.S. 331 Near Florala in Covington County, Alabama

A 40-year-old Enterprise man was killed and two Florida residents were injured in a head-on collision on U.S. Highway 331 in Covington County, Alabama, on Saturday afternoon. According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), the crash occurred at approximately 4:52 p.m. on U.S. 331 just north of Florala, near the highway's intersection with Smyrna Road. ALEA reports that a 2011 Honda Civic driven by Stevie Duncan, 40, of Enterprise, was struck head-on by a 2012 Ford F-250 driven by Mark Rogers, 60, of DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Duncan was pronounced dead at the scene after first responders arrived. Rogers and his passenger, Sue Rogers, 58, also of DeFuniak Springs, were both injured. They were taken across the state line to North Okaloosa Medical Center in Crestview, Florida, for further treatment. The extent of their injuries was not released in initial reports. ALEA's Highway Patrol Division is actively investigating the crash. Additional details, including the circumstances that led to the collision, have not been made public. Our thoughts are with Duncan's family and loved ones, and with everyone affected by this tragedy.

Location and Infrastructure

U.S. Highway 331 is a primary north–south route through Covington County, linking the Florida Panhandle with south-central Alabama. The crash site lies just north of Florala, a small city on the Alabama–Florida state line, along the stretch of highway that connects Florala with Opp to the north. South of the state line, U.S. 331 continues into Walton County, Florida, toward DeFuniak Springs. That makes the corridor a regular route for cross-border commuters, commercial vehicles, and travelers heading to and from Gulf Coast destinations. Outside town limits, the highway passes through largely rural terrain. Intersections with county roads such as Smyrna Road can bring turning traffic and vehicles entering from side roads. On rural highways where opposing lanes are not physically separated, head-on crashes are among the most severe collision types, because the speeds of vehicles traveling in opposite directions combine.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Alabama follows a fault-based insurance system. The driver found responsible for a crash, and that driver's liability insurer, are generally responsible for the resulting damages. State law requires minimum liability coverage of $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may also apply. Alabama is one of the few jurisdictions that still applies pure contributory negligence, which can bar recovery by a party found even partly at fault. Under Alabama's wrongful death statute (Ala. Code § 6-5-410), the decedent's personal representative may bring an action within two years of death, and damages in these actions are punitive in nature. Personal injury claims are generally subject to a two-year statute of limitations (Ala. Code § 6-2-38). Because this crash involved out-of-state residents, questions of jurisdiction and insurance coverage may arise. Those affected may wish to consult a licensed attorney about their specific circumstances.

Related Resources

Local Emergency Services

• Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), Highway Patrol Division – alea.gov
• Covington County Sheriff's Office – (334) 428-2640
• Florala Police Department – (334) 858-3232
• North Okaloosa Medical Center, Crestview, FL – northokaloosa.com
• Emergency: 911

Traffic Safety Resources

• Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) – dot.state.al.us
• ALGO Traffic, real-time Alabama road conditions – algotraffic.com
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – nhtsa.gov

Support Services for Accident Victims and Families

• Alabama Crime Victims' Compensation Commission (for crashes involving a criminal offense) – acvcc.alabama.gov
• Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Victim Services – madd.org | 1-877-MADD-HELP
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (grief and emotional support) – call or text 988 | 988lifeline.org

State Laws and Regulations

• Code of Alabama (Alabama Legislature) – alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama
• Alabama Department of Insurance – aldoi.gov
• ALEA Crash Report Requests – alea.gov
• Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (for Florida residents) – flhsmv.gov