EVERGREEN, ALABAMA — Two families are facing unimaginable grief after a tragic two-vehicle crash claimed the lives of Willie Likely Jr., 47, of Brewton, and Dalton Dustin, 19, of Anniston.

The collision occurred at approximately 6:00 a.m. Thursday on U.S. Highway 31 near County Road 35, north of Evergreen. Emergency responders arrived at the scene, where both drivers involved in the crash were pronounced deceased.

Authorities identified the victims as Willie Likely Jr. and Dalton Dustin, two lives from different communities brought together by a tragedy that has left loved ones mourning. Their deaths have created a deep sorrow for the families, friends, and communities now trying to come to terms with a loss that arrived without warning.

Two additional occupants were injured in the collision and transported to a hospital in Montgomery for medical treatment. Their conditions have not been released.

The remains of both Willie and Dalton will be transported to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Mobile, where autopsies are expected to be performed. The Conecuh County Coroner’s Office and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency continue to investigate the circumstances that led to the fatal crash.

Willie Likely Jr. and Dalton Dustin were more than names connected to a tragic accident. They were people with lives, loved ones, memories, and futures that mattered deeply to those who knew them.

For the people who loved Willie, his absence will be felt in the quiet spaces of everyday life—in familiar places, shared stories, and the moments that now become precious reminders of the time they had together. For Dalton’s loved ones, the loss of a 19-year-old life brings a particularly painful sorrow, as they remember the hopes, dreams, and moments still ahead of him.

There is no easy way to prepare for a goodbye that comes so suddenly. A normal morning can become a day that changes everything. In the wake of such loss, memories become treasures, photographs hold greater meaning, and every shared laugh or conversation becomes something to hold close.