Russell County coroner releases name of victim in Phenix City fiery fatal crash
A fiery fatal car crash Wednesday night in Phenix City left one person dead, according to Russell County Coroner Arthur Sumbry Jr.
Antonius M. Sumbry, 25, of Phenix City was pronounced dead on the scene at 10:46 p.m., and the cause of death was severe thermal burns and charring, Coroner Sumbry told the Ledger-Enquirer in a text message Thursday morning.
In a follow-up phone interview, Sumbry said he was a cousin of Antonius Sumbry.
The crash happened on U.S. Highway 80 East near Summerville Road, Sumbry said.
WTVM reported witnesses said they saw two vehicles on fire on Highway 80 near Summerville Road and Stadium Drive, and fire crews arrived at the scene, but Sumbry told the L-E he was aware of only one vehicle being on fire.
The crash still is under investigation, Sumbry said.
“They’re putting it together piece by piece,” he said. “I just know that he was traveling from Columbus, and I think he actually was westbound and left the roadway some kind of way and struck the other vehicle and ended up striking a tree.”
Thursday afternoon, the Phenix City Police Department issued a news release about the accident.
At approximately 9 p.m. Wednesday, police responded the accident scene and found a vehicle off the side of the roadway that was on fire, according to the news release.
Further investigation by the PCPD Traffic Homicide Investigation Unit revealed that a Volkswagen Beetle was traveling westbound when the driver lost control, crossed the median, and struck a vehicle traveling eastbound, the news release says.
The driver of the other vehicle sustained minor injuries and was transported to a Columbus Hospital, police said..
The incident remains under investigation, according to the news release.
This story was originally published October 23, 2025 at 10:10 AM.
