A major highway shutdown disrupted the early morning commute in Jefferson County on Tuesday after a fatal crash claimed the life of an 18-year-old driver. Interstate 65 northbound was completely blocked near the University Boulevard exit as investigators worked under emergency lights to process a nightmarish scene.
The trouble started around 3:46 a.m. when Birmingham police officers responded to emergency calls regarding a collision involving a car and a motorcycle. The crash took place right in the heart of the Birmingham metro area, a major traffic corridor that handles thousands of vehicles every day.
Reports indicate that Jordin Jacobie Coles was driving a Cadillac ATS sedan north when his car sideswiped a motorcycle. The brief contact sent the sedan swerving off the main lanes of the interstate. The car careened over the edge and headed down the embankment leading toward University Boulevard.
As the Cadillac traveled down the embankment, Coles was thrown out of the vehicle. Emergency responders rushed to the bottom of the hill to reach the victim, but his injuries proved fatal. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office officially pronounced Coles dead at the scene around 4 a.m.
While the teen driver lost his life, the motorcyclist involved in the crash fared much better. Emergency personnel treated the rider, and police later confirmed that the motorcyclist survived and is expected to recover. Officers have not released the name of the rider or any additional details about the bike.
The fatal crash triggered an immediate shutdown of the northbound lanes of I-65, forcing police to detour early commuters for nearly three hours. Emergency crews worked quickly to clear the wreckage from the slope and clean up the roadway, allowing traffic to finally resume moving around 6 a.m.
Coles was a resident of Pleasant Grove, a town located just southwest of Birmingham. As his family and local community mourn, Birmingham Police continue to look into the exact events that caused the Cadillac to sideswipe the motorcycle. Authorities noted that no charges or citations have been filed as the investigation remains active.
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