A Highway of Heartbreak: Five Lives Lost in Fiery Greene County Collision
What was supposed to be an ordinary night on Interstate 59 turned into an unspeakable tragedy late Saturday in Greene County, Alabama. At approximately 10:17 p.m., two vehicles collided in a devastating head-on crash that claimed five innocent lives — including two young children. A 2019 RAM 1500 pickup driven by 45-year-old Stephen L. Keele of Ellisville, Mississippi, and a 2022 Toyota Sienna van operated by 36-year-old Tejaswini R. Cholleti of Aubrey, Texas, were involved in the fatal collision.
Traveling in the van with Cholleti were 40-year-old Sri V. Bejugam and two children, just 6 and 8 years old. Within moments of impact, both vehicles were engulfed in flames, leaving responders with a horrifying scene. All five occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. The intensity of the blaze made rescue impossible and further compounded the heartache, marking this as one of the most gut-wrenching crashes the region has seen in recent memory.
A Family’s Final Journey: Innocent Lives Lost Across State Lines
The crash didn’t just shatter metal—it shattered lives. Tejaswini Cholleti and her passengers were on a family road trip, their journey tragically cut short in an instant. The children’s laughter, the family’s shared hopes, and the simple joy of a road adventure were all stolen by a moment no one could have prepared for. Stephen Keele, the Mississippi man behind the wheel of the RAM 1500, also lost his life in the crash, leaving his own family to mourn a loss just as profound.
Now, three states — Alabama, Texas, and Mississippi — are joined in sorrow. Friends and loved ones are left asking how something so tragic could happen so suddenly. The pain runs deep, reverberating far beyond the site of the crash. It is a moment frozen in time that will haunt families, first responders, and an entire community for years to come.
Mourning Through the Ashes: Honoring the Victims and Seeking Answers
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Highway Patrol Division is continuing its investigation, determined to uncover the cause behind the crash. But even as they work to piece together the events that led to the collision, families are left navigating unbearable grief. Communities are holding vigils, lighting candles, and praying for those whose lives were taken far too soon.
In this time of overwhelming sorrow, words often feel inadequate. Yet we must speak the names, remember the joy these individuals brought, and honor them with our compassion. Let this tragedy be a call to cherish life, to drive with care, and to hold our loved ones a little tighter each day. May the souls of those lost rest in peace, and may their families find strength in the outpouring of love and support around them.
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