Elijah D. Mayes and Benjamin Henry Dallas Radel Killed in Multi-Vehicle Crash on I-65 South Near Southlawn Drive in Montgomery, Alabama

A late-night collision on Interstate 65 in Montgomery has left two people dead and a third injured after a three-vehicle crash. According to the Montgomery Police Department, the crash occurred shortly after 12:35 a.m. in the southbound lanes of I-65 near the Southlawn Drive area, just beyond the exit for U.S. Highway 80. The crash involved two passenger vehicles—a 2017 Acura and a 2024 Nissan Altima—and a tractor-trailer. Montgomery police and fire medics responded quickly to the scene, but first responders found both passenger vehicle drivers deceased upon arrival. The Acura driver was identified as 20-year-old Elijah D. Mayes of Montgomery, while the Nissan driver was identified as 28-year-old Benjamin Henry Dallas Radel of Sanford, a community in Covington County. The driver of the commercial truck sustained only minor injuries. As of this report, the cause of the crash remains under investigation by Montgomery police, and no further details about contributing factors have been released. This tragic incident underscores the dangers of overnight highway travel and the devastating toll that traffic accidents can take on families and communities throughout central Alabama.

Location and Infrastructure

The crash occurred on Interstate 65 southbound near Southlawn Drive, a stretch of highway just south of the U.S. Highway 80 interchange in Montgomery. This section of I-65 is a heavily traveled corridor connecting Montgomery to points south, including Greenville and the Alabama Gulf Coast, and regularly carries a mix of commercial trucking traffic and passenger vehicles. Interchanges like the U.S. 80 exit create merging and lane-change zones that can pose hazards, particularly during overnight hours when visibility is reduced and traffic speeds may be higher due to lighter congestion. The area falls within Montgomery city limits and is patrolled by the Montgomery Police Department. As with many interstate corridors, this stretch features standard reflective signage, lane markings, and lighting near interchanges, though overnight conditions can still present challenges for drivers navigating multi-lane traffic involving commercial vehicles.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Alabama law, surviving family members of those killed in this crash may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim against any party found responsible for the collision. Alabama follows a contributory negligence standard, meaning that any fault attributed to a deceased or injured party could significantly affect a claim's outcome, making a thorough investigation critical. Alabama's statute of limitations generally allows two years from the date of the incident to file a wrongful death or personal injury lawsuit, though this period can vary based on specific circumstances. Insurance considerations may involve multiple policies, including those held by the passenger vehicle drivers and the commercial trucking company, as well as potential underinsured motorist coverage. Compensation in such cases may include funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, medical costs, and damages for pain and suffering, depending on the facts established during the investigation.

Related Resources

• Montgomery Police Department: (334) 625-2651
• Montgomery Fire/Rescue: Non-emergency line (334) 241-2900
• Alabama State Troopers / ALEA: https://www.alea.gov
• Alabama Department of Transportation – I-65 Traffic Conditions: https://algotraffic.com
• Alabama Code on Traffic Laws: https://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/alison/CodeOfAlabama/1975/Coatoc.htm
• Alabama Crime Victims' Compensation Commission: https://acvcc.alabama.gov
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): https://www.nhtsa.gov
• American Trucking Associations – Safety Resources: https://www.trucking.org