St. Clair Coroner releases report on two Ashville women

Autopsies on two Ashville women found in a stream beneath Interstate 59 on Wednesday more than likely died as a result of a traffic accident. St. Clair Deputy Coroner Mike Pepple said the driver of the car, Natasha Phillips, died of blunt force trauma to the head, while Ferlando Whisenant, the passenger, drowned.

Autopsies were requested by the St. Clair County District Attorney’s office since the victim’s causes of death were unclear.

The two were last seen at a nightclub on Birmingham’s Southside early Sunday celebrating Phillips’ 21st birthday. Authorities believe the women were heading home when the accident occurred.

The white Buick Regal the two were riding in crashed through the interstate guardrail at mile marker 164 near Ashville and landed upside down in a stream that feeds into Pinedale Lake.