Huntsville Scanner Audio Showed Chase Speeds Before Fatal Crash

Released Huntsville police scanner audio documented the speed of a deadly Sept. 1, 2026 chase in real time — a fresh reminder of what an open dispatch channel still reveals before official statements land. The radio recording caught officers pursuing a vehicle down Blue Spring Road at up to 80 mph and then captured the frantic moments after the pursuit ended in a fatal crash.

What the Released Radio Audio Captured

Newsrooms at WAFF used the police radio recording itself to establish the chase's top speed and the crash's aftermath. On the audio, officers reported speeds up to 80 mph — roughly double the posted limit — as the pursuit moved past Max Luther Drive and Sparkman Drive.

Police said the incident began as an attempted felony traffic stop. The released traffic shows listeners in the field getting a ground-level, minute-by-minute view of a high-risk pursuit as it unfolded.

How the Chase Unfolded

The pursuit was down Blue Spring Road in Huntsville when it ended in a crash. Radio traffic after impact included a report that the driver remained "still fully entrapped" in the vehicle:

"Still fully entrapped." — Huntsville police radio traffic after the crash

Officers also made a priority-one request for HEMSI ambulance service on the same channel, capturing the emergency response in real time before any formal update was released.

What We Know About the Victims

Madison County Coroner Tyler Berryhill confirmed the driver, 41-year-old Marcus Rice, did not survive. Authorities described Rice as a "well-known offender" with multiple outstanding warrants. Passenger Britney C. Sloan, 40, of Lacey's Spring, was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Why the Investigation Is Being Handled Out of State

To keep the review impartial, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) took over the investigation from the pursuing agency. Independent review of officer-involved pursuits is a standard step when a chase ends in death.

Why This Matters for Scanner Listeners

This case is a concrete argument for why scanner audio still matters wherever dispatch channels remain open. The recording was not a transcript or a filtered summary — it was the primary evidence of how fast the pursuit moved and how quickly help was called. For listeners, it is also a reminder that the same open-air radio traffic that documents a deadly chase one day can be shut off by encryption the next.

If you want to hear your own county's dispatch while channels are still open, a Baofeng UV-5R Plus ships pre-programmed to your zip code so you can start listening the day it arrives — no frequency charts required.

FAQ

What was the top speed reported on the Huntsville scanner audio?

Officers on the released radio recording reported speeds up to 80 mph, roughly double the posted limit, as the pursuit passed Max Luther Drive and Sparkman Drive.

When did the Huntsville chase and crash happen?

Police chased the vehicle down Blue Spring Road on Sept. 1, 2026. The pursuit ended in a crash that killed the driver; it began as an attempted felony traffic stop.

Who were the people involved in the crash?

The driver, 41-year-old Marcus Rice of Huntsville, died, according to Madison County Coroner Tyler Berryhill. Passenger Britney C. Sloan, 40, of Lacey's Spring, was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Why is ALEA investigating?

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency took over the investigation to keep the review impartial, which is standard when an officer-involved pursuit ends in a death.

Can I still hear my own county's dispatch?

It depends on whether your county's channels are encrypted. Where dispatch remains open, a scanner that is pre-programmed to your zip code lets you listen the day it arrives.

Bottom line: Released scanner audio proved the value of open dispatch — it documented a deadly chase's speed and the rescue effort in real time. It's also a reminder that the same channels can go dark without notice, so listening while you still can matters.