Alabama teen dies when police chase ends with crash into burned church where her boyfriend died days before

By Carol Robinson

A 19-year-old woman was killed in a traffic crash in St. Clair County after reportedly fleeing authorities and striking the Riverside Baptist Church.

Jennefer L. Arellano-Maldonado was the girlfriend of another teen who died when he also crashed into the church, which then caught on fire, just days before her fatal wreck.

Anthony Banks Jr., 19, died early Thursday when he apparently lost control of his vehicle and struck the church. The wreck happened just before 1:30 a.m.

Riverside Fire and Rescue and the Pell City Fire Department responded to the scene. Fire officials said the blaze had spread quickly throughout the church.

Aerial operations began soon after the first arriving units, and crews battled the fire through the entire night and into morning.

“Riverside Baptist Church has been a staple in our small town for decades,’’ Riverside Fire and Rescue posted on Facebook, “and our thoughts and prayers are with them and the family of the deceased during this difficult time.”

Then, on Sunday morning, Arellano-Maldonado was also killed when she wrecked into charred church. That crash happened at 12:53 a.m.

Senior Alabama State Trooper Brandon Bailey said Arellano-Maldonado was attempting to elude a Riverside police officer at the time of the crash.

The 2019 BMW X5 she was driving left the road, hit a brick wall, and caught on fire.

Arellano-Maldonado was not using a seat belt at the time and was pronounced dead on the scene. She lived in Odenville.

Riverside police Chief Jacob Heath confirmed both victims had been in a relationship with each other. The BMW driven by Arellano-Maldonado had been reported stolen from a family member, police said.

The investigation is ongoing by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

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