I-85 wreck victims from Cusseta, Tuskegee
Vasha Hunt | Opelika-Auburn News
The two fatalities of Tuesday’s three-car wreck have been identified as LaDonna Vajda, 55, of Cusseta, and Lakeisha Maddox, 28, of Tuskegee, according to a statement released by the Lee County Coroner’s Office Wednesday.
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By Katie Stallcup
Published: March 26, 2008
The two fatalities of Tuesday’s three-car wreck have been identified as LaDonna Vajda, 55, of Cusseta, and Lakeisha Maddox, 28, of Tuskegee, according to a statement released by the Lee County Coroner’s Office Wednesday.
The wreck occurred at approximately 5 p.m. Tuesday just north of Exit 57 on Interstate 85.
Vadja was driving a BMW 328i that crossed the median and was struck by the Lincoln driven by Maddox, according to the statement. The BMW and the Lincoln were both badly damaged, injuring two Lincoln passengers and killing both drivers.
The passengers were transported for medical treatment, one by helicopter to The Medical Center in Columbus and one by ambulance to East Alabama Medical Center. The statement did not include the names or conditions of the injured passengers.
“Autopsy findings are still pending, but both appeared to have died from massive blunt force injuries,” according to the statement.
Funeral arrangements for Vajda are pending at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home in Opelika and for Maddox at McKenzie’s Funeral Home in Tuskegee.
The Opelika Police Department, Lee County Coroner’s Office and Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences are investigating the cause of the accident.
Opelika police Capt. Allan Elkins said he could not comment on the ongoing investigation.
“There’s nothing I can share today,” Elkins said. “I don’t know how long it’s going to take to complete the investigation.”
A third car sustained minor damage, but no one in that vehicle was seriously injured, according to reports.
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( sherryhale40 ) on April 01, 2008 at 1:49 pm
This is to misty ,
thank you very much for the nice words that you had to say,my aunt was killed in this accident (vajda).Have a great day
Posted by ( Misty ) on March 31, 2008 at 9:50 pm
I have 2 things to say I’m sorry for the loss of the people’s family that is having to go throught this passing of their lovedones and 2 this is for all the people that think that this can never happen to them you dont know what happen and you don’t know when The Lord God is going to to call you home so how can you sit there and type about something that you know nothing about. have you ever stopped to think about the Families that are hurting and just tell them that you will lift them up in pray and that God Almight is going to see them through is time of hurting, Maybe they just need to know that in this time there are people who are there for them and not just to say that their lovedone was at fault . To the ones that have lost their loveones just know that Jesus Loves you And all you have to do is to call on Him in this time of need.
Yours Truely,
Misty Opelika, Al
Posted by ( Soulis ) on March 27, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Looks like I was beat to the punch.
To Cowboy 67: Ms. Ladonna was one of the nicest women I ever met, someone who insisted on me calling her “momma”, and one of the best mothers and grandmothers I ever met. To you, she may have been some name in the newspaper or another person on the highway, but she was a real person with a real family with people who relied on her, needed her, and loved her. Of the people that knew her, if she wasn’t family, she might as well have been family. So don’t be so quick and so callous about the people who “weed themselves out like this one did” as you put it.
Posted by ( friend ) on March 27, 2008 at 8:26 pm
LaDonna Vajda was the kindest woman i have ever known and would not hurt anyone on purpose. Remember there is a continuing investigation and she might not have lost control on her own. there were other cars on the road also!
Posted by ( sandymarcantel ) on March 27, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I have 2 comments, the first is both families have my deepest sympathy. LaDonna is my sister’s sister in law and she loved her very much. LaDonna was a deeply loved Christian lady by all who knew her and will be missed very much. The second comment is how disgusted I was to read the comment made by Cowboy67. Sir you need to pray for yourself for making the statements you did. Were you there? Did you see what happened? And I, too, can’t believe you have always driven the speed limit. You should be ashamed of yourself for your comment and owe the family an apology. I could say more but I’ll stop here except to say that Cowboy67 you need to look in a mirror before you waste other people’s time with your narrow minded comments.
Sandra (Cheryl Hovey’s sister)
Posted by ( sherryhale40 ) on March 27, 2008 at 4:54 pm
I would like to thank the person who wrote the comment at the top,she was my aunt and we still don’t know why she lost control of the car,but i assure you she was going the speed limit,she was’nt a speeder,and yes the other comment did bother really bad,i just hope my uncle does’nt read it, it will hurt him and his two daughters ,sherry
Posted by ( 1234 ) on March 27, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Yes, I agree that people need to slow down on I-85 as well as every other road or highway around here, but is this last post trying to say that these women deserved to die because one or more of them could have possibly been speeding?? I may be mistaken, but I have not seen one thing that says that speeding was a factor in the accident. This woman could have had a medical condition to cause her to lose control of her car or there could have been many other factors that could have caused the accident. Not to mention it is possible to lose control of a car that is going 70 MPH (the posted speed limit on I-85). Also, I find it very hard to believe that the previous poster has never once in his or her life driven over the speed limit even if it is only by one or two mph over the limit (which is still considered speeding by the way). That last comment that this “speeder weeded herself out” is the most disrespectful thing I have ever heard in my life. Think about how you would feel if someone made a comment like that about your mother or sister or daughter or any other loved one that lost their life in a tragic accident like this one!!!
Posted by ( sherryhale40 ) on March 27, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I am sorry but i failed to mention who my aunt was LADONNA VAJDA,gosh she will really be missed!
Thanks
Sherry
Posted by ( sherryhale40 ) on March 27, 2008 at 12:13 pm
I would just like to say thank you for the people who have posted a comment about this accident.mrs.vajda was my aunt and i will miss her dearly.she was a wonderful person and loved by everyone.Thanks
Sherry
Posted by ( Cowboy67 ) on March 27, 2008 at 10:42 am
Go figure, another wreck on I85. People, slow down! Every time I drive 85, doing the posted speed limit, I am passed as if I were standing still. I guess those dang speeders will eventually weed themselves out like this one did. It is a real tragedy that another persons life was taken though.