DOTHAN, Ala — A quiet Sunday evening on Montgomery Highway turned into heartbreak when 18-year-old David Tice lost his life after being struck by a semi-truck. Friends, family, and local residents are still trying to make sense of the sudden loss of a young man with his whole life ahead of him.
Just after 7 p.m. Sunday in the 4800 block of Montgomery Highway, authorities say Tice was making his way home from work on foot. He had just gotten off his shift at LaParilla Mexican Restaurant and told his coworkers he planned to walk toward the Walmart nearby. That simple plan ended in tragedy when a passing semi-tractor trailer hit him. He died at the scene.
Emergency crews arrived quickly but found nothing that could save him. The stretch of highway where it happened is a busy four-lane road with no real sidewalks or safe walking paths, and at that hour Sunday night drivers were still heading home or out to run errands. Southbound lanes were shut down for hours as crews investigated and worked to clear the scene.
Houston County Coroner Robert Byrd confirmed Tice’s identity Monday morning, and described him as a young man with friends who cared about him deeply. Word of his death spread fast through the Dothan community, and tributes started pouring in from classmates and neighbors who remembered him for his bright smile and hardworking attitude.
Police haven’t said whether speed, visibility, or road conditions were factors in the crash, but the investigation is still active. They are urging anyone who might have seen what happened to step forward and talk with detectives. That kind of information could be crucial in understanding exactly how something so ordinary turned so deadly.
For many in Dothan, the loss of Tice highlights a bigger issue: the danger pedestrians face along major roads that weren’t built for people on foot. Few streetlights, no sidewalks, and high-speed traffic make walking in places like Montgomery Highway risky, especially after dark.
Tonight, neighbors are gathering in quiet corners of this city to remember a friend, a son, and a young man whose journey ended far too soon. Dothan’s heart is with the Tice family as they navigate an impossible loss, and the community is left to ask tough questions about safety and what can be done to prevent another tragedy.
