On a quiet Thursday morning just north of Demopolis, the community of Marion woke to the heartbreaking news that one of its own was lost too soon. Sixty-five-year-old Rodney M. Milner of Marion died when the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 he was driving left the roadway on Greene County Road 18, near Swan Lane, and struck a tree. The crash happened at approximately 6:00 a.m. on October 30, 2025.
Investigators with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Highway Patrol Division say the circumstances remain under investigation, but they did confirm that Milner was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. The vehicle’s impact with the tree caused severe damage, and troopers are still working to piece together what led to the pickup leaving the road.
Family members, neighbors, and longtime friends remember Rodney Milner as a man whose kindness was as steady as his work ethic. Whether he was greeting someone with a warm smile or helping out around town, Milner left a strong impression. His sudden passing has already stirred an outpouring of grief throughout the community. Local residents of Marion speak of his generosity, his laughter, and the quiet way he made others feel seen. Although no detailed obituary has been published in this story, those who knew him say Marion has lost a friend. (Original report included this description.)
In the hours since the crash, the reminder that every moment behind the wheel carries risk has rippled through Greene County. Reports highlight that Milner was not buckled in—a detail that investigators noted and families in the region say will weigh heavily in the weeks ahead. The message: even familiar roads, early hours, and trusted vehicles demand full attention and safety practices.
Friends say Rodney loved the simple things—early morning coffee, quiet drives through the county, and spending time with his close-knit circle of family and neighbors. The fact that this happened so early in the morning underscores how unexpectedly life can change. A single moment, a sudden swerve, a tree in the path—and a life ends. It’s a reality the community of Marion is now grappling with.
The investigation remains active, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency asks anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has dash-cam footage of the area on Greene County Road 18 near Swan Lane around 6:00 a.m. to come forward. Troopers hope to better understand why Milner’s truck left the roadway. Meanwhile, local leaders say they will organize a memorial gathering in Marion in the coming days—an opportunity for neighbors, friends, and family to share stories, hold each other up, and honor the life of a man gone too soon.
As Marion mourns, and as road-safety advocates point out the dangers of not wearing a seat belt, Rodney Milner’s passing brings home that our choices behind the wheel matter. One minute you’re driving familiar roads under a soft dawn; the next, you’re part of a tragedy that ripples across a town. His life may have been quiet in the eyes of the world, but to those who knew him, it was full—and now fully missed.
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