Crime
Charlton Wallace, 26, Killed in Two-Vehicle Crash on Central Avenue in Toledo
TOLEDO, Ohio — October 25, 2026 — Charlton Wallace, 26, of Toledo, died after a two-vehicle crash early Sunday morning on Central Avenue in west Toledo. His passenger, Kristopher Williams, 26, suffered life-threatening injuries. The driver of the other vehicle also went to the hospital with possible injuries.
Toledo police said the crash happened around 3:47 a.m. near Pioneer Lane. Investigators are working to determine the events that led to the collision.
According to Toledo police, Wallace was driving westbound in the left lane of Central Avenue. He attempted to turn right onto Pioneer Lane when his vehicle collided with another westbound vehicle in the right lane.
Darren Fordham, 29, was driving the second vehicle, police said. The collision left people injured and prompted an emergency response.
Authorities have not released further details about the speed of either vehicle or the specific factors that led to the crash.
Emergency responders transported Wallace, his passenger Williams, and Fordham to ProMedica Toledo Hospital for medical treatment.
Wallace later died at the hospital. Williams suffered life-threatening injuries, while Fordham reportedly had possible injuries. Officials have not provided further updates on Williams’ condition or Fordham’s injuries.
Police reportedly received an alert through Apple’s Crash Detection feature. Emergency crews also had to remove one person from a vehicle during the response.
Toledo police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision on Central Avenue near Pioneer Lane.
Authorities have not announced any criminal charges in the available information. Investigators have also not released further details about what led Wallace to attempt the turn or how the second vehicle entered the collision.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to establish the events that caused the fatal crash.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Jaxon Trew Bearden, 21, of Alabaster, was killed in a shooting in west Birmingham on Saturday night, according to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office. A woman was also wounded in the incident, but her injuries were not considered life-threatening.
The shooting occurred at approximately 9:14 p.m. in the 2400 block of Avenue B. Birmingham police responded after the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system alerted authorities to possible gunfire in the area.
Investigators collected evidence at the scene as officers worked to establish what led to the shooting. Police later took two people into custody while the investigation continued.
Police Sgt. LaQuitta Wade said officers were alerted to the shooting through the ShotSpotter system. Officers responded to the 2400 block of Avenue B, where they began investigating the reported gunfire.
Investigators placed at least 20 evidence markers in the roadway. The markers indicated that officers were documenting potential evidence connected to the incident.
Authorities have not released further details about what happened before the shooting. The available information also does not explain whether the people involved knew one another or what may have led to the gunfire.
Bearden, 21, was transported to UAB Hospital for emergency medical treatment. According to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, he was pronounced dead at 10:06 p.m.
A woman who was also wounded in the shooting arrived at the hospital in a private vehicle. Sgt. Wade said her injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Officials have not released the woman’s identity or provided additional information about the circumstances in which she was injured.
Officers from Birmingham’s North and South precincts later took two people into custody in connection with the ongoing investigation. Both individuals were being held at the city jail for 48 hours, according to the information provided.
Authorities have not announced criminal charges or publicly detailed the roles of the two individuals. Their detention does not, by itself, establish guilt.
Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Bearden’s death and the woman’s injuries. Investigators are working to determine what led to the shooting and whether additional action will follow.
Further details about the incident may become available as the investigation progresses.