In the early morning hours of Friday, a tragic single-vehicle accident on Alabama Highway 265 has claimed the life of a Camden resident while injuring two others. According to Alabama State Troopers, 33-year-old Cody Couch was fatally injured when the Jeep Wrangler in which he was traveling left the roadway, overturned, and collided with several trees. The crash occurred at approximately 12:30 AM, roughly two miles south of Camden in Wilcox County. Investigators reported that Couch was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the incident and was ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, 26-year-old John Chandler Felts Small, Jr., also of Camden, sustained injuries and was transported to John Paul Jones Hospital in Camden for treatment. A second passenger, 21-year-old Ashley Dailey of Camden, was more seriously injured and was taken to USA Hospital in Mobile for medical care.

Location and Infrastructure

Alabama Highway 265 runs through rural Wilcox County in southwestern Alabama, serving as an important connector for local communities. The stretch of highway where the accident occurred, approximately two miles south of Camden, is characterized by typical rural road features including limited lighting and narrow shoulders. This particular section traverses through wooded areas with several curves that can be challenging to navigate, especially during nighttime hours. Camden, the county seat of Wilcox County, relies on Highway 265 as one of its primary transportation arteries connecting to surrounding communities. The rural nature of this roadway means reduced traffic volume compared to major highways, but also presents unique safety challenges including wildlife crossings, limited visibility in certain sections, and potentially longer emergency response times compared to more populated areas.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Alabama law, victims of motor vehicle accidents and their families may be entitled to various forms of compensation depending on the circumstances. Alabama follows a contributory negligence rule, which can affect recovery if a party is found partially at fault. In this case, the absence of seat belt use may be relevant to subsequent legal proceedings, as Alabama's mandatory seat belt law (§32-5B-4) requires all front-seat occupants to wear safety belts while operating a vehicle. Injured parties typically have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under Alabama's statute of limitations (§6-2-38). Potential compensation may include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and in fatal cases, wrongful death damages. Family members of deceased victims should be aware that wrongful death claims in Alabama are distinct from those in other states, with damages being primarily punitive rather than compensatory in nature.

Related Resources

Emergency Services:

• Wilcox County Sheriff's Office: (334) 682-4715
• Camden Police Department: (334) 682-4202
• Alabama State Troopers (Selma Post): (334) 874-8234

Traffic Safety Resources:

• Alabama Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office: (334) 242-4159
• Drive Safe Alabama: drivesafealabama.org

Support Services:

• Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission: (800) 541-9388
• Alabama Head Injury Foundation: (800) 433-8002
• MADD Alabama (Mothers Against Drunk Driving): (800) 736-6233

Legal Resources:

• Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service: (800) 392-5660
• Alabama Department of Public Safety: alea.gov/dps
• Alabama Traffic Laws: alabamainteractive.org/ador_vic/traffic_laws.cgi