A man from Florence is currently in custody, facing serious charges of manslaughter following a tragic incident in which he allegedly struck and killed his brother with a vehicle during a dispute on Monday evening. The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office reports that the victim, 27-year-old Perry James Crakaal, lost his life on County Road 87, situated west of Highway 20, after an argument erupted between him and his older brother, 29-year-old Brandon Wayne Crakaal.
The confrontation reportedly began inside a vehicle, but escalated when Perry and a friend exited the car and started walking along the roadside. Eyewitnesses informed investigators that Brandon then drove his white Chevrolet pickup truck directly toward them, colliding with Perry before fleeing the scene of the incident.
Subsequent to the collision, deputies located the damaged pickup truck abandoned near County Road 15 in the Oakland community. A tip-off led law enforcement to a residence on County Road 106, where they apprehended Brandon Crakaal around midnight. He now faces charges of manslaughter as well as felony leaving the scene of an accident, as confirmed by Sheriff Joe Hamilton. The investigation into this tragic event is still ongoing, with authorities continuing to gather information.