Dothan man killed in single-vehicle crash
A Dothan man died early Sunday morning from the injuries he suffered in a single-vehicle crash off Main Street in Dothan.
Houston County Coroner Robert Byrd pronounced 47-year-old Herbert Neal Riddle dead at around 12:40 a.m. Sunday in the backyard of a residence off West Main Street.
Byrd said Riddle was ejected from the vehicle he was traveling in and found about 50 feet from a residence on Westchester Drive off West Main. He said the crash happened after Riddle ran a stop sign at the intersection of West Main Street and Girard Avenue, traveled through a vacant lot and struck a tree in the backyard of a residence on Westchester Drive. Byrd said the crash happened around 11:30 p.m. Saturday night.
“After he was ejected, the vehicle caught fire,” Byrd said. “The fire totally consumed the vehicle.”
The collision with the tree happened about 20 feet from the home on Westchester Drive. But Byrd said the home was apparently vacant and not damaged. Byrd said there was evidence of alcohol on the scene of the crash.
Officials with the Dothan Police Department and fire department responded to the crash.
Byrd said at the time of Riddle’s death he worked at WDHN-TV, the local ABC affiliate. According to a dothanfirst.com article from WDNH-TV, Riddle recently celebrated 25 years of service with the television station, and most recently worked as chief engineer.
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Reader Reactions
Neal was a truly extraordinary person and my husband and I extend our deepest condolences to all of Neal’s friends and family. We grieve with you for the loss of a loved one.
Neal Riddle was the love of my life. And so many others.I regret the pain his family has to endure over the comments made by an unidentified policeman who obviously made a speculation over a tragic event without any facts to base it upon.
Neal would not want us to bicker over this issue of drinking and driving.Neal never condoned such nonsense either.
Until I hear solid proof of alcohol involvement I wish the comments on this article would remain on the issue at hand,the loss of a fine human being who touched so many lives with goodness and kindness.
Drinking and driving kills,yes it is a fact. But this has not been substantiated in this case.
Let his family cherish their angel,not be bombarded by senseless comments on that which has NOT been proven.
Please comment on a page meant for alcohol related issues.Not to soil the memories of those of us who LOVED this man so dearly. God bless the Riddle family.Thank God for sharing him with us all. My angel.Rest peacefully.
i believe the article said “There was evidence of alcohol on the scene” or something to that effect. Let’s get it straight, that statement COULD mean there was a bottle in the back seat he had a sip out of days prior. I’m not saying he definitely wasn’t drinking- the poor guy had to deal with the people of Dothan and their closed-minded hate day in and day out and remain professional. HE DESERVED A DRINK. Just to be clear though, patriotgrl, he wasn’t boozing. It was no party. But I will see both sides of the fence, like NEAL always did. It’s all too easy to comment on a news story from the outside. It doesn’t seem real if we don’t know anyone involved personally. I don’t believe she was trying to be disrespectful. Informative, rather. And as much as I loved Neal, she is correct that drinking and driving is wrong, and it is fortunate that no one else was hurt. Neal wouldn’t condone it nor would he want us to bicker with some unknown person on his behalf. Patriotgrl, I will respond to you as Neal would: I am so sorry for the loss of your family member. It is terrible that it happened to you. However, save your comments for an article on M.A.D.D., not thrown out carelessly to people you do not know mourning their own loss.
tgcyndi…since my comment about the Birmingham webSITE was not directed at you, I would not expect it to mean anything to you.
I am not hyper defensive…it seems to me you are the one hyper defending someone who could have easily killed someone else with his carelessness…IF HE WAS INTOXICATED, and I have not seen an article saying he was not. The information that alcohol was a factor in the accident came from the cops TO THIS NEWSPAPER. If you have a problem with that information, take it up with the cops, not me for pointing out that DRIVING DRUNK KILLS.
Until you have lost a loved one to a drunken driver, don’t you dare tell those of us that have to try a “little tenderness”...I have no sympathy for a drunk who drives…period. I was a cab driver in Dothan for many years—there are three or four cab companies in town now…THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR DRINKING AND DRIVING.
Of course I feel bad for this man’s family and friends and all who will be affected by his death…but I don’t feel sympathy for him if he chose to get behind the wheel of an automobile while intoxicated.
Should this “tenderness” I am to try supposed to be extended to ALL drunk drivers, or just the one’s the rest of you deem to be “wonderful” people.
My “uninformed opinion”? I am just as informed as to the circumstances of this wreck as anyone else posting here ...the article said there was evidence that this “wonderful, beautiful” man had been intoxicated…until the family sues the police department for lying to the paper, I will go by what the cops said, and I will continue to say that I am glad he did not take anyone else out with him.
Now, I have been nice about this. If you want me to get really nasty I can…cos I have my own deep and intense hatred for drunks who drive and I can go ahead and unleash that if you’d like. I could tell you what I really think of people who drink and drive when all they gotta do is pick up a phone and call a cab…if you got enough money to booze it up, YOU GOT ENOUGH MONEY TO CALL A CAB so no one has to die for your habit.
Get offa your high horse there tgcyndi…don’t read the paper if you don’t like it, or believe their stories to be “truncated”.
Just so you know, I consider the term “Damn Yankee” to be an insult.
Dear “PG”;
As a motorcyclist who has been TWICE hit by drunk drivers, I concur with your understandable dislike for those who make the awful choice to drive while impaired.
With that said, it seems only reasonable to NOT judge others (particularly when your uninformed opinions can be percieved as thoughtless and cruel by grieving family and friends during this traditional holiday season) by the vague implications of a truncated newspaper report.
All persons concerned would be far better served with a bit less contempt and a bit more compassion on the part of nosey onlookers.
By the way, I am one of those “damn Yankees” from Chicago, and the “Birmingham side” you reference in your hyper-defensive retort means NOTHING to me.
I only care about the family of my departed friend, who, according to the FACTS, hurt NOBODY except himself.
Try a little tenderness, eh?
I didn’t say anything wrong, just pointed out that the article said that there was evidence of him possibly driving under the influence.
I didn’t know this person, so why do I need to gush sentiment about him?
Like I said, I am sure he was a wonderful person, and judging from the nice words folks have left here for him, he was. But IF he was driving intoxicated, then I am glad that no one else was hurt in the accident.
I maintain that opinion.
If you don’t like it, you could always just stay your butt on the Birmingham site, and leave me alone here.
Otherwise, go away, you bother me.
Well thats real nice. Four people took the time to show their respect for the dead and well wishes for the family….
and then there was patriot.gyrl.
A more beautiful soul I have never known. However, I never saw Neal have a drink of alcohol, and I offered many times. Something is wrong with the investigation, or with the report that he had previously hit another car.
Farewell to a true friend and colleague.
With so much left to live for, the loss of this wonderful human being will affect many people across the nation on several levels.
This seemingly avoidable and totally senseless tragedy is an eminently regrettable incident.
At the same time this tragedy could be perceived as a cautionary tale that a significant number of friends and acquaintances will hopefully learn from, which is the ONLY possible source of comfort that could result from the loss of a very special and much loved individual.
My broken heart goes out to the Riddle family, particularly at this time of the year when so many families traditionally gather together to give thanks.
God speed, my good friend. Your tireless service to others was much appreciated, and you WILL be missed by many.
“Tis a fearful thing to love that which Death can touch.“
I am sure this man was a wonderful person…but if he was drunk and driving, I am most thankful that he did not kill anyone else while doing so…
I can say this ‘cos I have lost a loved one to a drunk driver…supposedly that drunk driver was a heck of a guy, too, but he still killed my loved one with his irresponsibility.
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