On Saturday afternoon, Nov. 1, 2025, tragedy struck along the northbound lanes of Interstate 65 near mile marker 163 in Montgomery County, when 64-year-old Chelice S. Burns of Mobile lost her life after another vehicle struck her car from behind. According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the impact caused her vehicle to veer into the median, triggering a destructive sequence of events that ended in a fiery wreck.
At approximately 4:00 p.m., troopers responding to the scene found that Burns had been pronounced deceased at the site. Meanwhile, three other individuals were injured and rushed to local hospitals for treatment. The collision caused such extensive damage and fire that the interstate northbound lanes remained closed for several hours while investigators and emergency crews worked to clear the scene.
Friends and family recall Chelice as a warm and generous woman whose presence lit up any room she entered. Her compassion and willingness to help others were constants in her life; she never hesitated to offer a helping hand. Her devotion to her loved ones—family and friends alike—left an imprint on everyone she met, and the laughter and love she brought into spaces will be lasting.
Though the news of her passing has created an irreplaceable void, her memory lives on through the many lives she touched. In every shared smile, every act of kindness she initiated, the legacy of her strength and love will continue to shine. For those who were fortunate to know her, that legacy already endures.
As the family and close friends gather to honor her life and say goodbye, they find solace in knowing that Chelice is at peace. Her light—though extinguished too soon—continues to watch over them in spirit, with the same grace she carried in life.
In the quiet aftermath of this heartbreaking accident, the community is reminded of how fragile life can be and how powerful one person’s love and kindness really are. Chelice’s life may have ended in a moment of tragedy, but the way she lived that life remains a testament to the goodness one person can bring into the world.
Though the details of the crash will be reviewed by investigators and the exact circumstances will be clarified in time, what remains unmistakably clear is the depth of loss felt by those who loved her — and the depth of the love she shared.