Tragic Collision on Highway 9 Claims Two Lives, Leaves Child Seriously Injured
The small Alabama community north of Piedmont is reeling from heartbreak after a devastating head-on collision on Highway 9 late Friday night claimed two lives and left a child hospitalized. The crash, which occurred near mile marker 237, brought emergency crews, investigators, and grieving family members to a scene described by first responders as one of the most catastrophic wrecks in recent memory.
The victims have been identified as Kimberly Feazell, a devoted mother and resident of the area, and Patryck Smith, the driver of the other vehicle involved. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Feazell’s 9-year-old child, who was traveling in the backseat of her vehicle, was pulled from the wreckage alive and rushed to a nearby hospital with serious but survivable injuries.
According to Alabama Law Enforcement Agency troopers, the crash happened just before midnight on a clear, calm evening with no weather issues and little traffic on the road. Investigators say Feazell was driving northbound when Smith’s vehicle inexplicably crossed the center line and slammed head-on into her car. The collision impact was so forceful that both vehicles were completely destroyed, scattering debris across both lanes of Highway 9 and forcing the roadway to remain closed for several hours while crews worked to clear the scene and collect evidence.
Emergency responders arriving minutes after the 911 calls found both drivers unresponsive. Paramedics attempted to resuscitate them but quickly realized the injuries were too severe. Their vehicles had absorbed the full brunt of the crash, leaving twisted metal and shattered glass marking the violent end of two lives. The child in the backseat of Feazell’s car was trapped but conscious when help arrived. Rescue workers carefully extracted the young passenger and rushed them to the hospital for treatment.
As of the latest updates, the child is expected to recover physically, though loved ones acknowledge the emotional toll of losing a mother in such traumatic circumstances will take far longer to heal. The Feazell family, while staying close to the child’s bedside, has asked for privacy and prayers as they navigate this painful new reality.
Investigators have not yet determined why Smith’s vehicle veered out of its lane. Troopers are exploring several possibilities: excessive speed, distraction, or possible impairment. With no clear weather or road conditions to blame, authorities say the cause likely lies in human error or an unexpected medical emergency. Toxicology tests are being conducted as part of the ongoing investigation.
Neighbors and friends have described Kimberly Feazell as a loving, compassionate woman whose life centered on her child. She was known for her bright spirit, her steady kindness, and her ability to make others feel cared for, even in ordinary moments. “She lived for her little one,” a close friend shared. “Everything she did was about being the best mom she could be.”
The community has already begun to rally around the surviving child, organizing fundraisers and support networks to ensure their recovery and well-being. Flowers and handwritten notes now sit near the crash site—a quiet memorial for a mother taken far too soon.
Meanwhile, Patryck Smith’s family is also grieving. Though much remains unknown about what caused the crash, loved ones say Smith was a young man with his own struggles but a good heart. They, too, await answers as investigators continue piecing together the final moments before impact.
For those driving through the now-cleared stretch of Highway 9, the reminder lingers: life can change in an instant. Two families have been forever altered, a community is in mourning, and a child faces the long road ahead without a mother’s embrace.
Authorities urge anyone with additional information about the crash to contact state troopers as the investigation remains active. For now, the focus stays on healing—for the child, for the families, and for a community struggling to make sense of a tragedy that defies explanation.
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