Fiery crash claims life

Taylor County saw its third fatal crash of 2025 with the death of a 19-year-old Ashland man in a head-one crash on Hwy 13 Tuesday morning.

According to sheriff Corey Dassow, on September 30 at approximately 5:41 a.m., Taylor County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a report of a two-vehicle accident in the area of Hwy 13 and Alfalfa Avenue in the town of Chelsea, Taylor County. It was further reported that the accident involved a passenger vehicle and semitractor trailer and both vehicles were on fire.

Taylor County Sheriff’s Office Deputies along with Taylor County First Responders, Medford Area Fire Department and Taylor County Ambulance personnel were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, a 19-year-old driver, identified as Allen M. Madison of Ashland, was removed from one of the vehicles involved, a 2010 red Ford Fusion, which had been fully engulfed in flames.

Allen Madison was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the other involved vehicle was provided with medical attention and had no serious injuries reported at the time.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the Ford Fusion was southbound on Hwy 13 when it crossed the centerline and veered into the northbound lane of traffic causing a head on collision with the semi-tractor trailer unit. The collision then caused both vehicles to catch on fire. There were no other occupants in either vehicle at the time of the crash.

This incident is still under investigation.