By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency officials announced Monday, Dec. 5, that a Friday, Dec. 2, multi-vehicle crash that involved two passenger cars and four tractor-trailer rigs claimed the lives of a man and woman from Brewton.
State troopers reported that Jewell W. Smith, 57, was fatally injured when the 2009 Ford Escape she was driving was struck in the rear by a 2015 International tractor-trailer driven by Kevin L. Turner, 56, of Citronelle around 1:35 a.m.
Johnny W. Smith, 36, who was a passenger in the Escape, was also fatally injured. Johnny and Jewell Smith were each pronounced deceased at the scene.
According to trooper reports, the initial collision pushed the Ford Escape forward, and it struck a 2012 Mazda Miata driven by Kenneth M. Queen, 60, of Opp. The International then struck the 2018 Kenworth rig driven by Jose M. Reyna, 43, of Mexico.
After striking the Kenworth, the International then struck a 2018 Volvo tractor-trailer driven by Omonjod Mahmudov, 46, of Pikesville, Md. The Kenworth then struck the 2023 Kenworth tractor-trailer driven by Yanira I. Molina, 40, of Orlando, Fla.
No injuries other than the Smiths were reported as state troopers continued their investigation into the fatal crash, which occurred on Interstate 65, near the 63-mile marker, approximately 14 miles northeast of Atmore, in Escambia County.