In what his neighbors describe as a devastating blow to a tight-knit community, 64-year-old Antonio E. Morris of Sylacauga lost his life following a head-on collision Wednesday morning on Shelby County Road 11, about a mile west of Chelsea, in Alabama. The crash occurred around 8:30 a.m., when the Toyota Tacoma Mr. Morris was driving collided with a Ford Transit van, and he later died of his injuries at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hospital on Thursday.
According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), Mr. Morris was behind the wheel of a 2001 Toyota Tacoma when it met the 2017 (or in some reporting 2016) Ford Transit driven by 64-year-old Coleman A. White of Alabaster. The vehicles crashed head-on on Shelby County Road 11 near Belcher Road, a location known among locals for tight curves and narrow shoulders.
Initial information from troopers notes no other injuries at the scene, and that the investigation remains ongoing. Officials from ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division said they will reconstruct the collision, examining factors such as skid marks, vehicle data and whether road conditions or a vehicle crossing the center line were involved.
Residents living along that stretch of County Road 11 say the roadway can be especially challenging in the morning. With narrow shoulders, limited visibility around curves, and heavier traffic during commute hours, drivers say it takes extra care to navigate safely. One local commented that while there is no one single fault, the combination of terrain and speed contributes to frequent near-misses.
In Sylacauga, friends and neighbors are mourning Mr. Morris – remembered widely as a hardworking, kindhearted man who showed up for others and always offered a helping hand. While not much has been publicly released yet about his personal background beyond his location and age, those who knew him describe someone who lived quietly but meaningfully, and whose loss is deeply felt.
According to the official timeline: Mr. Morris’s crash happened Wednesday, October 29 at approximately 8:30 a.m.; he was transported to UAB Hospital and subsequently died on Thursday, October 30 from his injuries. The driver of the van, Mr. White, has not had his condition detailed publicly, and the investigative agency has released no indication of charges or cause yet.
As the investigation proceeds, ALEA officials are urging all motorists—especially those traveling rural two-lane highways like County Road 11—to drive defensively: stay alert, obey posted speed limits, and give extra margin for error. A moment’s distraction or one misjudged curve, they say, and tragedy can unfold.
In the wake of this accident, the Sylacauga area community is reflecting on the fragility of everyday travel and how one person’s daily commute can turn into a life-changing event. The loss of Antonio E. Morris is a reminder of that reality, and the call now is for both compassionate remembrance and renewed vigilance on the road.
