What began as a festive weekend in Birmingham turned into one of sorrow and searching for answers as two men—41-year-old Cortez Lowery and 49-year-old Kedric Lamon Johnson—lost their lives in separate, tragic single-vehicle crashes over the holiday period. Both were Birmingham residents, and both died under circumstances that, while eerily similar in isolation, now form part of a deeply troubling trend that continues to haunt the city’s streets. As investigations unfold, the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office and the Birmingham Police Department are working diligently to piece together what happened in each incident, even as grieving families and stunned communities try to comprehend the sudden loss of two men who were reportedly known and respected within their local circles.
Cortez Lowery’s life came to a devastating end in the early hours of Saturday morning. He was found deceased at approximately 1:49 a.m. in the 9000 block of Zion City Road. The timing of his discovery offers only a partial view of what occurred—one shaped not by observation but by aftermath. Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates confirmed that there were no eyewitnesses to Lowery’s crash, a detail that may prove to be a major hurdle in reconstructing the circumstances of his death. The absence of a timeline, along with the lack of immediate external clues, leaves investigators with a challenging road ahead, dependent largely on forensic analysis, data recovery from the vehicle’s onboard systems (if available), and any environmental markers left at the scene.
Lowery was alone in the vehicle when he died—no other passengers, no visible interaction with another car or pedestrian. The solitude of the crash scene raises questions about the nature of his journey that night: Where was he coming from? What might have preceded the fatal moment? Investigators have not yet determined whether impairment, mechanical malfunction, road surface conditions, or even a medical emergency might have contributed. Without witnesses or surveillance footage, they are left to gather what they can from the wreckage and any surrounding environmental indicators.
Less than forty-eight hours later, tragedy struck again—this time claiming the life of Kedric Lamon Johnson. His crash took place on Sunday in the 200 block of Pratt Highway. Unlike Lowery’s crash, emergency personnel arrived while Johnson was still alive, and he was transported with urgency to UAB Hospital. Despite medical intervention, Johnson succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 10:02 p.m. The late evening timing, the presence of responders, and the hospital efforts all provide slightly more narrative substance than in Lowery’s case, but as with the earlier incident, little is publicly known about the actual mechanics of the crash.
Both incidents fall under the jurisdiction of the Birmingham Police Department’s Traffic Homicide Unit, a specialized team trained to assess crash dynamics, evaluate contributing factors, and determine if criminal or negligent activity played a role. As of now, police have withheld definitive assessments on what led to either crash. The agency has not disclosed whether excessive speed, impaired driving, distracted behavior, or vehicular malfunction was suspected. That silence is not unusual; in fatal traffic cases, especially those lacking clear evidence or witness statements, conclusions can take weeks or even months to develop.
From a procedural standpoint, single-vehicle crashes present a unique investigative challenge. When only one car is involved and no other drivers are available for interview, officials must often turn to physical clues—tire marks, crash angles, deployed airbags, and any internal data logged by the vehicle. In Johnson’s case, there may be more avenues for insight, owing to his transport and the potential availability of final communications or biological samples collected at UAB Hospital. However, in both cases, without input from a second party or a recording of events, authorities must rely on indirect means of reconstructing the final moments of each man’s life.
The coroner’s reports have not yet listed official causes of death beyond the confirmation of fatal injuries resulting from motor vehicle crashes. Both Lowery and Johnson are noted as residents of Birmingham, and while the article does not offer additional personal details, the mention that they were “reportedly well-known within their communities” suggests that their deaths are being deeply felt on a personal level. In many Birmingham neighborhoods, local identity and community ties run deep. The death of a longtime resident—especially under tragic and unresolved circumstances—can ripple far beyond immediate family, affecting churches, workplaces, neighborhood groups, and social circles.
The timing of both crashes—within a short span of a holiday weekend—adds a bitter layer to the grief. What should have been a time of barbecues, family gatherings, and celebratory fireworks ended in mourning, uncertainty, and questions that remain unanswered. For their families, the emotional toll of waiting for investigative clarity compounds the trauma of the loss itself. Police and coroner updates, while methodical, cannot keep pace with the emotional urgency that accompanies unexpected death.
The Birmingham community is no stranger to traffic-related tragedies. According to long-standing data, single-vehicle crashes are among the most common types of fatal accidents in urban centers, often linked to conditions like speeding, fatigue, alcohol use, or roadway hazards. While the current report does not identify any such contributing factors, their statistical prevalence makes them the first hypotheses to be explored. Urban streets like Zion City Road and Pratt Highway are known to serve high volumes of local traffic and can be challenging to navigate late at night or during adverse conditions.
Law enforcement regularly uses holiday weekends as opportunities to raise awareness about driving safety, recognizing that increased travel, celebratory drinking, and late-night hours contribute to elevated crash risk. Unfortunately, these efforts—ranging from DUI checkpoints to public service announcements—do not always prevent tragedy. The deaths of Lowery and Johnson starkly illustrate the ongoing gap between awareness and outcomes.
As investigations progress, the Birmingham Police Department will likely turn to a broader set of data points, including crash history along the roads where these incidents occurred, visibility levels at the time of the crashes, and any history of similar accidents in those corridors. Should patterns emerge—such as inadequate lighting, poor signage, or recurring mechanical issues with certain vehicle models—those findings may trigger recommendations for broader safety reforms or infrastructure updates.
Beyond technical analysis, the psychological and social impact of such crashes cannot be overstated. Communities grappling with sudden, unexplained loss often face compounded challenges: emotional devastation, financial strain from funeral costs, and the destabilizing effect of losing a family provider or community leader. For the loved ones of Lowery and Johnson, this period likely involves a mix of grief, logistical demands, and a gnawing desire for understanding.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, led in this case by Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates, is tasked with determining the manner and cause of death for both men. Their conclusions—once final—will serve as a foundation for further police analysis and for any potential insurance or legal proceedings. Yates has been a key public figure in many of the region’s high-profile death investigations, and his office’s role in the early public disclosure of these two fatalities underscores their importance in managing transparency during public health and safety crises.
Members of the public are being encouraged to come forward with any information that may help police reconstruct either crash. Even seemingly insignificant details—such as seeing a car swerve, hearing an impact, or observing vehicle damage—could become pivotal in filling the gaps. Anonymous tips and dashcam footage from nearby drivers could also assist in determining the timeline and context of both accidents.
Meanwhile, Birmingham residents are once again faced with the difficult reminder that roadways—familiar as they are—can turn deadly in an instant. The deaths of Cortez Lowery and Kedric Lamon Johnson illuminate not just the risks associated with driving but the fragile lines between life, timing, and tragedy. Their names now join a growing list of community members lost to traffic incidents, reinforcing the need for persistent vigilance, community education, and systemic efforts toward making roads safer for everyone.
As families plan memorial services, and as officials pore over every available fragment of evidence, Birmingham grieves—not just for what was lost, but for what remains unknown. In honoring the memories of Cortez Lowery and Kedric Lamon Johnson, the city is also confronted with a broader question: How many more must be lost before the answers come fast enough to save lives?
In the coming weeks, as investigations yield results, the full story of what happened may finally come to light. Until then, the community waits, mourns, and remembers.