Accident kills two Newton residents Sunday morning

Two Newton residents were killed early Sunday morning in a single vehicle accident, after the driver lost control of the vehicle. James Albert Sanders, 31, and Rebecca Verlene Sanders, 29, died in the accident, according to a release from the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office received a call about a serious single vehicle accident at 6:49 a.m. Sunday morning in the 7900 block of North 27th Avenue East, approximately four miles northeast of Newton. When authorities arrived on the scene, they found the Sanders couple unresponsive in the vehicle. Both individuals were pronounced dead at the scene by the Jasper County Medical Examiner. The Sanders were taken to Wallace Family Funeral Home in Newton. Authorities said the evidence at the scene indicated that the 2000 Dodge Durango driven by James Sanders was westbound on North 27th Avenue East when he lost control of the vehicle and it entered the north ditch where it collided with several trees. The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Kellogg Fire Department. The accident remains under investigation. Arrangements for the Sanders are being handled by Wallace Family Funeral Home. Jessica Lowe can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 426 or via e-mail at jlowe@newtondailynews.com.