Late Friday night, 32-year-old Austin E. Brown of Cantonment, Florida, lost his life in a devastating collision on southbound Interstate 65 near mile-marker 93 in Conecuh County, Alabama. The crash happened at approximately 9:22 p.m. on November 7, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).
Brown was driving a 2015 Hyundai Tucson when, for reasons still under investigation by the ALEA Highway Patrol Division, his vehicle struck the rear end of a 2016 Freightliner Cascadia tractor-trailer being driven by 48-year-old Adhanom T. Ghidey of Houston, Texas. The truck driver escaped injury, but Brown was pronounced dead at the scene.
Emergency responders arrived swiftly but were unable to save Brown. His body has been transported to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Mobile for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death and contributing factors in the crash. The coroner’s office also reported that Brown’s family has been notified.
Those who knew Brown describe him as a caring, hardworking man whose warmth and generosity touched many lives. Whether helping friends or supporting family, his presence brightened rooms and his loss is being felt deeply across his hometown and beyond. His untimely passing leaves behind a void and a community in mourning.
The setting of the crash—on a stretch of interstate just south of Evergreen, Alabama—adds to the tragic weight of the story. Busy roadways like that part of I-65 carry heavy truck and car traffic late into the evening, and investigators will examine factors such as speed, visibility, vehicle condition, and driver awareness as part of their ongoing inquiry. The ALEA has not yet released further details on the tumbler of events leading up to the impact.
As family and friends gather to remember Brown, there is both grief and gratitude: grief for what has been lost too soon, and gratitude for a man who lived with kindness and left a positive mark on so many. His legacy will live on in the laughter he shared, the help he offered, and the love he gave.
May Austin E. Brown rest in peace—and may all who loved him find comfort and strength in one another at this difficult time.