Flomaton, ala. (ap) - a van crossed the median of a highway in southern Alabama and collided with a pickup truck, killing six people and injuring three others in a crash local authorities described as one of the worst they had ever seen. The force of the collision ripped the van's transmission from the vehicle and scattered debris along more than 100 yards of highway, cpl. James patterson with the state patrol. ``it looks more like an airplane crash scene than a car crash, '' said jim johnson of the flomaton volunteer fire department. ``the van's front end just disintegrated. I've never seen so much debris. All the windows exploded on impact from the looks of it.'' ``this is one of the most severe crashes we've ever had in Alabama, '' patterson said. He said evidence at the scene indicated three occupants in the van were ejected onto the side of the highway up to about 40 feet from where the van came to rest. A third vehicle struck the transmission that lay in the roadway, and personal items such as pieces of a beaded necklace, eyeglasses and cosmetics and women's dress shoes could be seen along the road. State troopers did not release the identities of the five women and one man who died. The six killed were riding in the van, a 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette.

- Huntsville, AL, USA