Yaime Zulueta, 37, Killed, Two Drivers Injured in Two-Vehicle Crash on Alabama Highway 55 North of Red Level in Covington County

A 37-year-old Texas woman was killed and two men were injured in a two-vehicle crash on Alabama Highway 55 in Covington County on Sunday afternoon, according to Alabama State Troopers. The collision happened at about 12:53 p.m., roughly five miles north of the town of Red Level, and involved a 2025 Nissan Rogue and a 2015 Toyota Tundra. Yaime Zulueta, 37, of Euless, Texas, was a passenger in the Nissan Rogue. She was critically injured and was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders. The driver of the Rogue, 35-year-old Argelio Berenguer, and the driver of the Tundra, 45-year-old Allen Catrett of McKenzie, were also hurt. Both men were taken to Andalusia Health for further treatment, and their current conditions have not been released. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) is investigating the crash. Authorities have not said what caused the two vehicles to collide, and no further details have been made public. Accident Data Center extends its deepest sympathies to Ms. Zulueta's family and loved ones, and wishes both injured drivers a full recovery.

Location and Infrastructure

Alabama Highway 55 is a state route that runs north–south through Covington County in south-central Alabama. It connects the county seat of Andalusia with the town of Red Level and continues north toward Butler County and communities such as McKenzie. North of Red Level, the highway passes mostly through rural farmland and timberland. Traffic signals are few, intersections are spaced far apart, and many stretches have limited roadside lighting. Rural two-lane highways like this one carry a mix of local residents, commercial and logging trucks, and through travelers. Drivers can face higher travel speeds, curves, hills that limit sight distance, and vehicles turning to or from private driveways and county roads. Andalusia Health, about a half hour's drive south, is the nearest hospital and serves as the area's main destination for crash victims.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Alabama is an at-fault state, so the driver found responsible for a crash, and that driver's insurer, is generally liable for the resulting damages. State law requires drivers to carry minimum liability coverage of $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. Alabama is also one of the few states that follow the doctrine of pure contributory negligence. Under it, an injured party found even slightly at fault may be barred from recovering damages. Personal injury and wrongful death claims are generally subject to a two-year statute of limitations. Alabama's Wrongful Death Act (Ala. Code § 6-5-410) is unusual in that it allows only punitive damages, which are meant to punish wrongful conduct rather than to compensate the family for its losses. In personal injury claims, compensation may include medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may also apply.

Related Resources

Emergency Services and Investigating Agencies

• Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) – Highway Patrol Division: https://www.alea.gov
• Covington County Sheriff's Office (Andalusia, Alabama)
• Andalusia Health (849 S. Three Notch St., Andalusia, Alabama)
• For emergencies, dial 911

Traffic Safety Resources

• Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT): https://www.dot.state.al.us
• ALGO Traffic – real-time Alabama road conditions and incidents: https://algotraffic.com
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): https://www.nhtsa.gov

Support Services for Accident Victims and Families

• Alabama Department of Insurance – consumer assistance with insurance claims and complaints: https://www.aldoi.gov
• Alabama Head Injury Foundation – support for people with traumatic brain injuries and their families: https://www.ahif.org
• 211 Connects Alabama – referrals to local social services, counseling, and assistance programs (dial 2-1-1)

State Traffic Laws and Regulations

• Code of Alabama (Alabama Legislature): https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama
• ALEA Driver License Division – rules of the road and driver manual: https://www.alea.gov/dps/driver-license