WVAS Local News

A 43-year-old Montgomery woman died early Sunday morning in a single vehicle crash on Montgomery County 15. State Troopers said Tasha Tranise Joiner was killed when the sport utility vehicle she was driving left the road and hit a utility pole. The crash happened around 1:30 Sunday morning about three miles west of Montgomery. Troopers said Joiner was ejected from the SUV and shw was not wearing a seat belt. Two Deadly Accidents Two men were killed in separate crashes in Opelika and Auburn this weekend. Lee County Coroner Bill Harris said 57-year-old Samuel Ray Gilbert of Texas died Sunday morning when another vehicle struck him on Interstate 85 in Opelika. State Troopers sais another crash claimed the life of 19-year-old Jayson Tippett of Auburn. Tippett was killed in a two-vehicle crash Saturday night on U.S. Highway 280 near Auburn. Missing Civil Rights Worker A new lawsuit seeks information on the whereabouts of an Alabama civil rights worker who's been missing since 1973. A Buffalo attorney filed the Freedom of Information suit in federal court in western New York. It seeks any Justice Department records having to do with Ray Robinson of Selma wh was last seen at Wounder Knee, South Dakota, where he went to stand with American Indians in their fight against the federal government. It's unclear wha happened to Robinson but many presume he was murdered. Attorney Michael Kuzma said the Robinson's family and the American people have a right to know where he is buried. Convicted Mail Carrier A former mail carrier from Montgomery has been convicted of multiple charges involving tax refund fraud using stolen identities. Federal prosecutors say former carrier Vernon Harrison was part of a conspiracy that used tolen identities to file false tax returns. A jury convicted Harrison last week of conspiracy, mail fraud, identify theft and embezzlement. He could ve sentenced to up to 216 years in prison. Federal Judge Mark Fuller has not set a sentencing date. Prison Officer Trial The last of four former correctional officers charged in the beating death of an Alabama inmate goes on trial today in Montgomery federal court. Former Ventress prison officer Joseph Sanders is charged with violating inmate Rocrast Mack's rights by aiding in the beating, conspiring with others to cover up how Mack died and obstructing justice. The other three former officers have eighter pleaded guilty or been convicted and all three are awaiting sentencing. Defense attorney Jim Parkman ssays he intends to shwo that Sanders' never assaulted the inmate. Prosecutors said Sanders hit Mack several times with a baton and that he lied during the initial investigation.