Two Teens Killed, Two Injured In Saturday Morning Crash In Tuscaloosa

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa Police Department says two area teenagers were killed and two others injured in a two-vehicle crash early Saturday morning at the intersection of Skyland Boulevard East and Interstate 20/59.

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TPD spokeswoman Stephanie Taylor told local media that officers responded at 1:50 a.m. after a 2022 Tesla and a semi-truck collided, pinning the car under the truck's trailer and trapping the four occupants.

While police did not identify the victims by name, scores of social media posts from the family and friends of the victims said the wreck was in the early morning hours following prom at Bryant High School.

The posts identified the driver as 17-year-old Bryant High student Madison Sims, along with 18-year-old Samuel Brown of Uniontown, who was the front-seat passenger. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

Brown's Facebook profile says he was a senior at R.C. Hatch High School, where he played football and basketball. In January, he posted his senior photos and expressed his excitement for graduation.

A photo collage of the two teens posted by Sims to Facebook Friday night has been shared almost 15,000 times and has more than 18,000 reactions in the aftermath of the fatal crash.

Taylor said an 18-year-old female from Montgomery was also transported to UAB Hospital in Birmingham with life-threatening injuries, while another 17-year-old female from Marion was transported to DCH Regional Medical Center with minor injuries and is reportedly in good condition Saturday morning.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Tuscaloosa City Schools spokeswoman Lydia Avant issued a statement saying that the TCS community is deeply saddened by the tragedy.

"This is a difficult time for our students, faculty and staff," she said. "On Monday, students will have access to counselors and social workers to help cope with this tragedy. We will continue to have counselors available to help our students in the coming days. Teachers and staff will have access to our Employee Assistance Program. We send our deepest sympathies to the families involved and ask that their privacy is respected during this difficult time."

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