Tragedy On I-65: Florida Woman Killed In Fatal Shelby County Crash As Investigation Unfolds
A tragic crash on Interstate 65 in Shelby County earlier this week claimed the life of a Florida woman and left her husband seriously injured, sparking a community-wide discussion about highway safety and procedural transparency. The accident has not only raised questions about driver precautions but also strained local emergency communication systems and left two families devastated.
The fatal incident occurred around 8:15 p.m. on Monday, April 7, just two miles south of Calera, Alabama. According to authorities, Le’kisha Franklin-Morgan, 49, from Perry, Florida, was a passenger in a 2025 Kia Soul when it collided with a Kenworth tractor-trailer on I-65, driven by 47-year-old Netzahualcoyotl L. Rodriquez-Castro of Texas. Tragically, Franklin-Morgan was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. Her husband, Donald Morgan Jr., 55, who was driving the Kia, suffered serious injuries and was transported to UAB Hospital in Birmingham for treatment. The extent of his injuries has not yet been made public.
Details provided by Senior Trooper Vu Quang of the Alabama State Troopers and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency corroborate that emergency responders, including paramedics and the Shelby County Coroner, were quickly on the scene. The Alabama State Troopers subsequently led the investigation, closing both northbound lanes of I-65 as the area was treated as a potential crime scene for several hours. The northbound lane eventually reopened at 9:30 p.m.
The tragedy highlighted more than personal loss. Calera Chief of Police David Hyche commented on the wave of frustration from stranded motorists seeking updates during the long traffic delays, revealing that dispatchers were overwhelmed by repeated calls well into the night. In a candid statement, Hyche explained, “Our dispatcher was flooded with angry calls—many by the same callers—until about 12:30 a.m. which hindered our ability to take and respond to both routine and emergency calls.” He emphasized the difficulty in balancing public communication with the integrity of an ongoing homicide investigation, and offered his condolences: “I also want to send my prayers and condolences to the family that lost their loved one last night.”
As the Alabama State Troopers continue their investigation into the collision—an incident already invoking the possibility of both criminal charges and civil action—questions loom about seatbelt safety, emergency response protocols, and the challenges faced by law enforcement in keeping the public informed amid unfolding tragedies. This incident now joins a series of crashes on Alabama highways that remind motorists of the ever-present dangers of the road and the far-reaching impacts of a single moment.
As the community mourns the loss of Le’kisha Franklin-Morgan and supports her injured husband, the aftermath leaves Shelby County and beyond reflecting on the real cost of traffic safety lapses and communication hurdles in moments of crisis. What additional steps might be taken to prevent future tragedies, and how can communities better bridge the information gap during such critical times?
Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let us know how this incident resonates with you or your loved ones.