Authorities have identified two people who died following a late-night crash along a Birmingham interstate, according to officials.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office confirmed the victims as Shameon Meonsha Sanders, 35, and Siederick Dewayne McShan Jr., 25. Officials said both individuals were residents of Bessemer, Alabama.
Emergency crews from the Birmingham Police Department and Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service were dispatched around 10:47 p.m. Friday following reports of a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 20/59 in the Ensley area of Birmingham, Alabama.
According to authorities, the vehicle left the interstate near the Bush Boulevard exit before traveling down an embankment. Officials said the car eventually came to a stop near the intersection of Avenue T and 19th Street after striking a tree.
First responders arrived at the scene and attempted rescue efforts, but the occupants were unable to be saved. The two victims were later pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.
Initial radio reports suggested there could have been additional occupants in the vehicle. As a precaution, emergency crews searched the wooded area nearby to ensure no one else had been involved in the crash. After a thorough search, authorities confirmed that no additional victims were found.
Police vehicles temporarily lined the interstate while crews worked at the scene and investigated the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Officials say the investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the factors that may have contributed to the incident.
The tragic loss has left many in the local community mourning the lives of two young residents.
As investigators continue to examine what happened, community members are asking an important question: what steps can be taken to improve safety on busy interstate highways?
