Alabama Hall of Fame High School Coach Killed, Wife Injured In Fatal Wreck

A beloved U.S. high school coach and his wife were involved in a tragic fatal car accident this week.

David Dobbs, 68, was killed in a wreck in Jefferson County, Alabama on Wednesday morning. His wife, Anita, was critically injured. The wreck happened  just after 9 a.m. on Interstate 59 southbound between the Interstate 459 interchange and Chalkville Mountain Road, according to AL.com.

The beloved former Alabama high school track and cross country coach was pronounced dead on the scene. The wreck involved a commercial vehicle, though no further details are available at this time.

An investigation is underway.

Tributes for Dobbs have been pouring in on social media. Trussville Mayor Ben Short released a statement, calling Dobbs "a great man, a mentor, and truly one of the best human beings you could ever meet."

The community is deeply saddened.

"Coach Dobbs was the kind of person who made a lasting impact on everyone he encountered," Short said.

"He poured into others, led by example, and left this community better because he was part of it.

"It's hard to imagine this world without him."

Dobbs was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame coach and retired in 2020.

May he rest in peace.

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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 10:42 AM.