A 42-year-old Jacksons Gap man died Thursday afternoon after the dump truck he was driving left Alabama 22 in northern Tallapoosa County, overturned, and struck a tree, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). State troopers identified the driver as Jeremy J. Webb. The commercial vehicle crash happened at approximately 12:30 p.m. near the 131 mile marker on Alabama 22, about one mile east of the town of New Site. ALEA reports that Webb was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and died at the scene. Authorities have not reported any other vehicles involved. Troopers with ALEA's Highway Patrol Division responded and are leading the investigation, which remains ongoing. Officials have not released information about what caused the dump truck to leave the roadway, and no further details about the vehicle's owner, its load, or the conditions at the time of the crash have been made public. Accident Data Center extends its sincere condolences to Webb's family, friends, and coworkers in Jacksons Gap and throughout Tallapoosa County as investigators work to determine the circumstances of this tragedy.

Location and Infrastructure

Alabama 22 is a state highway that runs through rural northern Tallapoosa County, connecting Alexander City to the southwest with New Site and communities in neighboring Randolph County, including Roanoke, to the northeast. Outside of town limits, the route is largely a two-lane highway passing through wooded, rolling terrain, where trees and embankments often sit close to the pavement. That kind of roadside environment leaves limited recovery space when a vehicle leaves the travel lane, a factor that can increase the severity of run-off-road crashes, particularly for heavy vehicles with high centers of gravity such as dump trucks. The corridor carries a mix of local residential traffic, agricultural vehicles, and commercial trucks serving construction and timber operations in the region. Motorists traveling this stretch should observe posted speed limits, curve warning signs, and lane markings, and should adjust their speed for changing weather and pavement conditions.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Fatal crashes in Alabama may give rise to a wrongful death action under Ala. Code § 6-5-410, which generally must be filed by the personal representative of the deceased person's estate within two years of the date of death. Alabama's wrongful death statute is unusual in that recoverable damages are punitive in nature rather than based on the economic value of the life lost. When a crash occurs in the course of employment, as can be the case with commercial vehicle operators, the Alabama Workers' Compensation Act (Ala. Code § 25-5-1 et seq.) may provide death benefits and funeral expense coverage to eligible dependents, subject to its own notice and filing deadlines. Commercial vehicles are also typically subject to federal and state motor carrier safety regulations, and investigators may review maintenance, inspection, and hours-of-service records. Under Ala. Code § 32-5B-7, evidence of seat belt non-use is generally inadmissible in civil actions. Families may wish to consult a licensed Alabama attorney to understand how these provisions apply to their circumstances.

Related Resources

Local Emergency Services

• Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), Highway Patrol Division: https://www.alea.gov
• Tallapoosa County Sheriff's Office: https://www.tallapoosacountysheriff.com
• Tallapoosa County Emergency Management Agency: https://www.tallaco.com
• Emergencies: dial 911 | ALEA Trooper assistance from a cell phone: *HP (*47)

Traffic Safety Resources

• Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT): https://www.dot.state.al.us
• ALGO Traffic – real-time Alabama road conditions and closures: https://www.algotraffic.com
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA): https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – Seat Belt Safety: https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/seat-belts

Support Services for Accident Victims and Families

• 211 Connects Alabama – local referrals for grief counseling, financial assistance, and family support: https://www.211connectsalabama.org (or dial 2-1-1)
• Alabama Department of Labor, Workers' Compensation Division: https://labor.alabama.gov
• Alabama Department of Insurance – consumer assistance with insurance claims: https://www.aldoi.gov

State Traffic Laws and Regulations

• Code of Alabama (Alabama Legislature): https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama
• Alabama Code Title 32 – Motor Vehicles and Traffic, including Chapter 5B (Mandatory Use of Seat Belts)
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (49 CFR Parts 390–399): https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations