A devastating crash in Alabama has left two families shattered after a college student was killed just one day after celebrating his 20th birthday.
Jesse Southard, a 20-year-old freshman, died early Friday morning after a head-on collision on Interstate 65 in Pelham. Authorities say the crash happened around 2:15 a.m. when an SUV driven by 36-year-old April Ballard slammed into Southard’s car.
Investigators say Ballard was traveling the wrong way—heading south in the northbound lanes—when the vehicles collided in a violent impact that killed both drivers.
Officials believe alcohol and speed may have played a role in the crash, though the investigation is still ongoing.
“It’s believed that alcohol and speed are going to be a factor,” Shelby County Coroner Lina Evans said, urging drivers to stay alert on the road.
The timing of the tragedy has made it even more heartbreaking.
According to a fundraiser created by loved ones, Southard had just turned 20 the day before the crash. His sudden death has left his family and friends reeling.
“Jesse was known for his kindness, unique sense of humor, and genuine altruism,” the fundraiser reads. “He was happiest helping others, blasting music, and working on his many hands-on projects.”
Southard, who was from Birmingham, is survived by his parents, Jonathan and Leah, his brother Zach, and a large extended family who are now mourning the loss of a young life cut tragically short.
Ballard, a nurse from Leeds, also leaves behind three children—Lily, 15, Asher, 13, and Piper, 4—who are now in the care of their grandmother.
Her loved ones described her as a devoted mother with a generous heart.
“She would be there any way she could for her friends, family, or even a stranger,” one tribute read. “She was kind, nurturing, and truly beautiful inside and out.”
God bless his soul.