A retired Alabama state trooper killed last year in a crash was hit by an intoxicated driver traveling 104 miles per hour, according to a lawsuit filed Friday in Tuscaloosa County.

Daryl W. Brown Sr., 63, died in the fiery crash Aug. 8, 2024.

Brown had served more than 28 years as a trooper. At the time of his death, he was a member of the security team at the Richard Shelby Federal Building and Courthouse in Tuscaloosa.

Attorneys Josh Hayes and Blake Williams of law firm Prince Glover Hayes filed the wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of Brown’s wife.

The suit names as defendants the drivers of two separate vehicles that struck Brown, as well as the transportation company for which one of the driver’s worked.

The crash happened about 6 a.m. that Thursday while Brown was on his way to work.

Authorities said Brown was driving a 2012 Hyundai Accent on the interstate about a mile south of Fosters when his vehicle was struck by a 2011 Mazda 6S, causing Brown’s vehicle to be disabled and the Mazda to leave the road and overturn, said Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Cpl. Reginal King.

Brown’s vehicle was then struck by a 2023 Freightliner tractor-trailer.

Brown was using a seatbelt at the time of the wreck with the tractor-trailer, but he was ejected from his vehicle due to impact of the collision.

After striking the Hyundai, the Freightliner caught fire.

The drivers of the tractor-trailer and the Mazda were taken to DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa with undisclosed injuries.

According to the lawsuit, 30-year-old Daaron Michael Crooks was driving the Mazda northbound in the left lane on I-59.

“Recklessly and at a high rate of speed, Crooks attempted to change lanes without proper clearance and violently struck Brown’s vehicle,‘’ the lawsuit states.

Attorneys said a download of the event data recorder showed Crooks was traveling 107 miles per hour five seconds before smashing into Brown’s vehicle. At the moment of impact with Brown, Crooks was traveling 104 miles per hour.

Brown’s vehicle struck the guardrail and was rendered disabled in the right lane of the roadway.

Luis Rembert Garcia, a professional truck driver who worked for Brave Express, was driving the 18-wheeler, also northbound on the interstate.

“The Bravo Express tractor-trailer slammed into Brown Sr.’s vehicle,‘’ the lawsuit contends. “Upon information and belief, Garcia was operating the tractor-trailer negligently, wantonly, recklessly and/or in conflict with state law, federal law, and industry standards.”

The lawyers allege Garcia was following too closely and had time to avoid impact with Brown’s vehicle but because of his actions and omissions, did not do so.

“An independent witness identified on the Alabama Uniform Crash Report adamantly reported that the tractor-trailer never braked before impact, which indicates driver distraction on Garcia’s part,‘’ the lawsuit states.

The cause of Brown’s death was multiple blunt force injuries of the neck and chest.

“As a result of these collisions, Brown wrongfully lost his life and his wife and family have had him ripped from their lives, an immeasurable loss of an exceedingly good man,” lawyers said in the suit.

The attorneys are asking for jury trial and unspecified damages.