Sylacauga teen killed in Coosa County crash
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Members of B.B. Comer Memorial High School’s class of 2026 gather on the football field for a special balloon release in remembrance of 16-year-old Brenlee Parker who died in a car wreck. Photo submitted
Pink balloons take to the sky in memory of Brenlee Parker during a special tribute. Photos submitted
By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
A Sylacauga teenager who was a junior at B.B. Comer Memorial High School was killed in a wreck in the Stewartville community last Wednesday.
The two-vehicle crash occurred at approximately 1:10 p.m. August 21. According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the 16-year-old juvenile was fatally injured when the 2021 Nissan Altima she was driving was struck by a 2003 Freightliner tractor-trailer driven by Jimmie L. Thomas, 76, of Wetumpka.
The teen was pronounced deceased at the scene.
A 17-year-old passenger in the Altima was also injured and was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
Additionally, Thomas was also injured and transported to Russell Medical Center in Alexander City for treatment.
The crash occurred in the Stewartville community of Coosa County, at the intersection of County Road 150 and U.S. Highway 231, approximately five miles south of Sylacauga.
While ALEA does not release names of juveniles, the teen was later identified as Brenlee Parker.
To honor her memory, B.B. Comer’s cheerleaders provided the junior class with pink balloons at last Friday’s football game. At 6:45 p.m., students in the junior class gathered on the football field for this special tribute, with balloons being released following the raising of the flag.
Fans were also invited to bring their own pink balloons to release from the stands at that time in memory of Brenlee.
Prior to the balloon release, an announcer at the game stated, “Brenlee Parker was known for her love of everything pink, her beautiful smile, witty personality, and being a friend to all who knew her.”
He proceeded to express the students’, faculty’s and staff’s condolences to Brenlee’s family and loved ones, saying, “We will keep them close to our hearts and in our prayers in the difficult days to come.”
In closing the tribute, he stated, “Brenlee was and will always be a part of the class of 2026. We will do our best to honor her in everything that we do. To honor her memory tonight the class of 2026 would like to release pink balloons in memory of our sweet and beautiful Brenlee Parker in her favorite color. Fly high, Brenlee. We love you dearly and will miss you even more.”
