A 43-year-old Sylacauga man was killed and a 52-year-old Auburn woman was injured in a head-on collision Friday evening in rural Lee County, Alabama, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). The crash happened shortly after 6:30 p.m. on Lee County Road 188 near Lee County Road 78, about 10 miles west of Auburn. Investigators said two vehicles, one driven by Jimmy Salters, 43, of Sylacauga, and the other by Kacie Smith, 52, of Auburn, collided head-on. Salters was pronounced dead at the scene. Smith was taken to a hospital in Montgomery for treatment, and her current condition has not been publicly released. ALEA troopers responded to the scene and are leading the investigation, which remains ongoing. Authorities have not released information about what caused the collision, and no charges have been announced. Accident Data Center extends its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Jimmy Salters and hopes for a full recovery for Kacie Smith. This article will be updated if investigators release additional confirmed information.

Location and Infrastructure

Lee County Road 188 and Lee County Road 78 are county-maintained roads in the rural western part of Lee County, an area that sits between the cities of Auburn and Opelika to the east and the Montgomery region to the west. Roads in this part of the county serve residential properties, farmland, and local drivers traveling to and from Auburn, the home of Auburn University, and Opelika, the county seat. Travel on rural two-lane roads presents particular risks for head-on collisions, because opposing lanes of traffic are often separated only by painted centerlines. Drivers approaching intersections on county roads should watch for vehicles entering or turning from side roads. Investigators have not stated whether road conditions, lighting, or traffic control devices near the intersection of County Roads 188 and 78 played any role in this crash.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Alabama follows an at-fault system for motor vehicle crashes, which means the driver found responsible for a collision and that driver's insurer are generally liable for resulting damages. Alabama law requires drivers to carry minimum liability coverage of $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may also apply. Alabama is one of the few states that applies the doctrine of pure contributory negligence, under which an injured party found even slightly at fault may be barred from recovery. Under Ala. Code § 6-2-38, personal injury claims generally must be filed within two years. Wrongful death actions under Ala. Code § 6-5-410 must be brought by the deceased person's personal representative within two years of death, and damages in those cases are punitive in nature. Personal injury claims may seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering.

Related Resources

Emergency Services

• Emergency: Dial 911
• Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), Highway Patrol Division: alea.gov
• Lee County Sheriff's Office, Opelika, Alabama
• Lee County Emergency Management Agency

Traffic Safety Resources

• Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT): dot.state.al.us
• ALEA crash reports and driver services: alea.gov
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): nhtsa.gov

Support Services for Crash Victims and Families

• Alabama Crime Victims' Compensation Commission: acvcc.alabama.gov
• Alabama Department of Insurance, consumer assistance: aldoi.gov
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) for grief and emotional support

Alabama Traffic Laws and Regulations

• Code of Alabama, Title 32 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic): alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama
• Alabama Mandatory Liability Insurance Act, Ala. Code § 32-7A
• Alabama statute of limitations for personal injury, Ala. Code § 6-2-38
• Alabama Wrongful Death Act, Ala. Code § 6-5-410