Woman dies following Opelika wreck that killed husband, injured three others

The 51-year-old driver involved in Friday’s two-vehicle wreck in Opelika that killed her husband and injured three others died Sunday afternoon, according to a release from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Rhonda Finley of Auburn died at 3:40 p.m. CST Sunday in the Intensive Care Unit of Midtown Medical Center in Columbus as a result of complications from injuries she sustained in the 7:21 p.m. CST crash at the intersection of Magnolia Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard, according to officials.

The backseat passengers have since been treated at East Alabama Medical Center and released.

Authorities said Finely was driving a 2002 Toyota Camry with her husband Dennis Richard Finley, 58, of Auburn in the front passenger seat and two other people in the backseat when the vehicle struck broadside at Magnolia Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard, Lee County Coroner Bill Harris said.

Immediately after the crash, Dennis Finley was pronounced dead at the scene, Rhonda Finley was airlifted by a Lifesaver helicopter to Midtown Medical Center and the two backseat passengers treated for non-life threatening injuries at the East Alabama Medical Center.

Alabama State Troopers said Antonio Reese, the 33-year-old driver of a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu that struck the Finleys, was taken to the East Alabama Medical Center and later transferred to the UAB Medical Center in Birmingham. Reese of Auburn was charged Friday night with reckless murder, felony attempting to elude and assault in the first-degree.

He has since been charged with an additional count of reckless murder connected with from Rhonda Finley’s death, officials said in the press release.

Authorities said it appears that Reese was traveling south on Magnolia Avenue and failed to stop at the stop sign. He is accused of entering the intersection and striking a vehicle on the driver’s side.

Reese was sought by an officer after a routine traffic stop in the area of Auburn Street and Fruitland Avenue before the crash. The officer lost sight of the vehicle but remained in the area to locate it.

In a matter of seconds, Reese’s vehicle was discovered to have been involved in the collision at Magnolia Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard, Opelika police said.

No police vehicle was involved in the crash.

The collision is under investigation by the State Troopers of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency along with the Lee County Coroner’s Office.

This story was originally published April 25, 2016 at 7:58 AM with the headline "Woman dies following Opelika wreck that killed husband, injured three others."