Jewell Smith, Johnny Smith Killed in Multi-Vehicle Crash on I-65 near Atmore, AL
Atmore, AL — December 2, 2022, Jewell and Johnny Smith died in a six-vehicle accident involving four tractor-trailers on Interstate 65 near Atmore.
Authorities say the incident happened Friday on I65 near mile marker 63. Preliminary investigation suggests Jewell Smith, 57, was driving a Ford Escape along the highway when she was hit from behind for unknown reasons by an International tractor-trailer. The impact pushed the Ford into a Mazda Miata.
The International truck continued forward and hit a Kenworth big rig, then a nearby Volvo 18-wheeler. The Kenworth truck hit a second Kenworth before coming to rest.
Jewell Smith and her passenger Johnny Smith, 36, were pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
The investigation continues. No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Jewell and Johnny Smith Accident near Atmore
If preliminary reports have their facts straight then it sounds like this deadly and tragic chain-reaction wreck was triggered when a big rig plowed into traffic. Obviously investigators will have to find out exactly how and why that happened in the first place, but many people may feel that the striking truck driver and his employer would have little choice but to accept responsibility and try their best to make things right.
Reasonable as that may sound, truck accidents are rarely that simple--something I try to impress upon people who call the firm thinking they have an "open-and-shut" case. It's just about every company's default position to dispute liability until they're blue in the face, and people who thought the story was clear enough to stand on its own have been shocked to hear a company blame anything and everything else they can think of for the terrible damage done. That's why it's best to have some idea what might be coming after a truck accident, as well as what might be done to overcome those obstacles. Click below to learn more.
