Incident
Correctional Officer Rodney Kelley was killed in an automobile crash on U.S. 82, in Bullock County, when the prison van he was driving collided head-on with a tractor-trailer.
Officer Kelley was transporting six correctional officer job applicants from the Bullock Correctional Facility in Union Springs to the Draper Correctional Facility in Elmore. All six job applicants were also killed in the collision.
The tractor-trailer was speeding while attempting to pass in a no-passing zone when it collided with the van.
Officer Kelley is survived by his wife and child.
Survivors
Officer Kelley is survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Correctional Officer Kelley gave the Alabama Department of Corrections 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Alabama. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Kelley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Alabama Department of Corrections has lost 11 officers; 3 of them lost to accidents.
Rodney is one of 182 officers lost to accidents in AL, 28.3% of the 643 remembered there.
Rodney is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Rodney is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2008, 4 officers in AL were lost to accidents, the 7th heaviest of 85 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 6.
In 2008, 69 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 51st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2008, 82 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 52nd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Rodney was 36. Of the 160 lost to accidents in AL whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 47.3; the middle age was 36.5. Rodney had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Rodney was 36. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Rodney had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Rodney was 36. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Rodney had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
October holds 7.1% of these deaths in AL; July holds the most, 13.2%. Fridays: 14.8%.
October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Fridays: 15.1%.
October holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Fridays: 15%.
How
Accident deaths account for 27.3% of all 11 deaths at Alabama Department of Corrections, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 28.3% of all 643 deaths in AL, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Alabama Department of Corrections has 11 officers remembered here, Rodney among them.
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Archie Brown Boutwell
Dec 10, 1957
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Robert E. Kendrick Mar 23, 1971
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Luell Wheeler Barrow
Jan 18, 1974
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Luther Franklin Fails
Mar 12, 1974
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William E. Donaldson
Jan 12, 1990
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Charles Andrew Farquhar, Jr.
Oct 23, 1994
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William Fredrick Immer
Jul 4, 1997
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Teresia Wheeler
Oct 1, 2001
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Elizabeth Franklin
Dec 7, 2007
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Rodney Kelley
Oct 3, 2008
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Kenneth Levella Bettis
Sep 16, 2016
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Alabama Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.








