Basic Facts
Crash date: June 9, 2026
Crash location: Interstate 65 near Southlawn Drive in Montgomery, AL
People involved:
- Elijah D. Mayes, 20
- Benjamin Henry Dallas Radel, 28
- Unidentified truck driver
Do authorities suspect alcohol played a role in this crash? Unknown
Did authorities recommend criminal charges? Unknown
Do authorities suspect a product defect caused the crash? Unknown
Accident Report
Montgomery, AL — June 9, 2026, Elijah Mayes and Benjamin Radel were killed in a truck accident at about 12:30 a.m. on Interstate 65.
Authorities said a southbound semi-truck was involved in a crash with a 2017 Acura and a 2024 Nissan Altima near Southlawn Drive.
Acura driver Elijah D. Hayes, 20, and Nissan driver Benjamin Henry Dallas Radel, 28, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.
The truck driver suffered minor injuries, authorities said.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Montgomery County crash at this time.
How Did This Accident Occur?
It is not clear how at this point how these vehicles came together on southbound I-65. Was one of the drivers fatigued or distracted? Did someone stop or swerve unexpectedly? Did one of the vehicles have an issue with its brakes or steering mechanism? There are a lot of questions to be answered in this investigation.
Authorities likely will work to reconstruct this accident by scrutinizing physical evidence, witness statements, data from the vehicles and any available video footage. Cell phone records could add some insight as well, potentially showing what each driver was doing at the time.
If investigators suspect a mechanical problem contributed to this crash, a qualified expert will need to examine the vehicles in a laboratory setting. Most law enforcement agencies don’t have the training or facilities for such inspections, but the families of the men who died in this accident deserve to know as much as possible about what happened on I-65.
Did you witness this crash? Let me know what you saw in the comment section.
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