A devastating ATV crash in Cleburne County, Alabama, on Sunday, July 12, 2026, claimed the lives of two people and left family, friends, and loved ones mourning the heartbreaking loss.
According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division, the victims were identified as 28-year-old Dylan J. Deaton of Carrollton, Georgia, and 25-year-old Mackenzie T. Smith of Tallapoosa, Georgia.
Authorities said the crash happened on Cleburne County Road 429 near Cleburne County Road 49, approximately three miles south of Muscadine. Investigators reported that Deaton was driving the ATV when it left the roadway, struck a truck, and overturned. The impact caused both Deaton and Smith, who was a passenger, to be ejected from the ATV.
Both victims suffered fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Highway Patrol Division continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. Additional details have not been released.
The tragic loss of Dylan J. Deaton and Mackenzie T. Smith has left their families, friends, and communities grieving as they remember two lives that ended far too soon. Their memories will continue to be cherished by those who knew and loved them.