“A tragedy on all levels:” Woman charged with manslaughter, DUI after head-on collision kills 16-year-old in Northport

NORTHPORT, Ala. (WBRC) - A woman is in custody and charged in the death of a minor after a head-on collision in Tuscaloosa Friday morning.

Rachael Robinson, 29, has been charged with manslaughter, two counts of first-degree assault, and driving under the influence for a wreck that killed 16-year-old Ke’Javien Summerville and left two others with “critical injuries.”

Northport Police responded to the scene of the crash at around 3:43 a.m. Friday on the Hugh Thomas Bridge.

Police discovered that a vehicle has been travelling the wrong way on the bridge and struck another vehicle head-on.

While Robinson was uninjured in the crash, it was suspected she was under the influence of alcohol.

The vehicle she hit had three people in it.

Summerville was pronounced dead on the scene while the other two were transported to DCH Regional Medical Center with critical injuries.

The two people transported to the hospital were both adults.

After the Northport Police Department’s Traffic Reconstruction Unit requested the Violent Crimes Unit, evidence was gathered which, after consulting with the District Attorney’s Office, resulted in Robinson being charged.

“I just can’t reiterate that this is a tragedy on all levels,” said Capt. Jack Kennedy with the Tuscaloosa Co. Sheriff’s Office, who calls Robinson’s actions ‘unacceptable behavior.’

“We’ve had decades long research, public advertising, taught in driving classes everywhere,” Kennedy told WBRC. “Local law enforcement is always on the lookout for this and we will prosecute anyone that is found to be under the influence operating a motor vehicle to the fullest extent of the law, and the point of that is to avoid tragedies such as what we had last night.”

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