Russell County Coroner Arthur Sumbry is mourning the loss of his own family member after a fatal crash Wednesday night October 22, 2025. The fiery crash happened on Highway 80 near the Summerville Road exit in Phenix City, Alabama.
According to the Coroner’s office 25-year-old Antonius M. Sumbry was pronounced dead at 10:46 p.m. on the scene. The cause of death is severe thermal burns, and the manner of death is accident. The 25-year-old Sumbry is a cousin of Coroner Arthur Sumbry. A deputy coroner responded to the crash.
Phenix City Police officers responding to the scene located a vehicle off the side of the roadway that was on fire. Further investigation by the 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. Antonius Sumbry was the driver of the Volkswagen Beetle. The driver of the second vehicle sustained minor injuries
and was transported to a local hospital.
