DEKALB COUNTY, Ala. — A tragic accident on the night of July 4 has left the Collinsville community in mourning, as 48-year-old Derrick G. Barkley lost his life in a single-vehicle crash in rural DeKalb County.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) confirmed the fatal crash occurred just minutes before midnight, at approximately 11:55 p.m. on Friday, July 4, along DeKalb County Road 30 near County Road 84, about three miles northwest of Collinsville.
Crash Details
According to ALEA, Barkley was driving a 2018 Chevrolet Colorado when the vehicle veered off the roadway. The truck struck a fence, collided with a utility pole, and then overturned. Authorities confirmed that Barkley was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and no additional vehicles were involved. Officials have not released further details at this time.
Community Reaction
News of Barkley’s death has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit town of Collinsville, where he was known and respected. Friends and neighbors remember him as a hardworking and kind individual who always had a smile and a helping hand for those around him.
As investigators continue to piece together the circumstances of the crash, local residents are left grappling with the loss of another life taken far too soon — and on a day meant for celebration.
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division are continuing the investigation.
