Young man dies at scene of Jackson County crash, sheriff’s office says

A single-vehicle accident resulted in the death of Joshua Welzbacher, 33, Monday night on Wade-Vancleave Road.

Welzbacher was ejected from the back seat of a truck driven by Adam Martindale, 31, of Hurley, a news release from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department says. Welzbacher died at the scene, while Martindale was airlifted to USA Medical Center in Mobile.

Martindale was still belted into the driver’s seat when deputies arrived at the crash site, the news release says.

The pickup truck had hit several trees and was heavily damaged, the news release says. The cause of the crash is not yet known.

Clarification: An initial police report incorrectly identified the first name of the victim in the crash.

This story was originally published April 29, 2025 at 12:14 PM.