Sumter County is reeling from a fatal two-vehicle crash on Alabama Highway 28 that claimed the life of 68-year-old Ellis Bibbs of Livingston on November 29, 2025.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency reported the collision around 5:30 p.m., three miles east of Livingston near the 11-mile marker. Bibbs was driving a 1999 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck eastbound when it collided with a 2021 Ford Expedition operated by a 73-year-old Livingston woman.
The impact caused Bibbs’ truck to veer off the roadway and strike a tree a short distance away. He sustained severe injuries and was transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle in Columbus, Mississippi, where he succumbed to his wounds. The Expedition’s driver was also hospitalized at the same facility for treatment of undisclosed injuries, with her condition stabilized.
ALEA’s investigation continues to determine the factors leading to the vehicles’ contact, including potential speed or road conditions. Toxicology samples from Bibbs were collected, and no charges have been filed. Authorities urge drivers on rural highways like AL-28 to exercise caution, as the area’s curves and traffic volume contribute to such tragedies.
Ellis Bibbs grew up in Livingston’s close-knit rural community, where family farms and church gatherings shaped his hardworking spirit from childhood. A lifelong resident of Sumter County, he embraced Alabama’s Black Belt traditions, often sharing stories of local history with younger generations. These roots instilled a quiet resilience that defined his daily life.
Professionally, Bibbs worked in agriculture and local services, known among neighbors for his reliable assistance during harvest seasons. He balanced farm duties with community involvement, volunteering at Livingston High School events and supporting youth programs. His career reflected Sumter County’s agrarian ethos, fostering bonds that extended beyond work hours.
Bibbs’s world centered on his devoted family, where he cherished his role as husband, father, and grandfather, creating joyful moments through shared meals and weekend outings along the Tombigbee River. He offered steady encouragement during milestones, his home a hub of warmth amid Livingston’s rhythms. Though his time ended abruptly, Ellis Bibbs’s legacy of steadiness inspires Sumter County to cherish kin and drive safely.