A Bessemer woman has pleaded guilty in the hit-and-run death of a man who was struck and killed while walking to check his mail in Jefferson County. Tammy Tanner Albanese, 56, admitted in court Monday that she was texting on her cellphone when she fatally struck 55-year-old Teddy Eugene Self on September 22, 2022.
Albanese pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident causing injury or death, according to court records. For the manslaughter conviction, she received a 20-year sentence, with three years to serve in prison. For leaving the scene, she was sentenced to 10 years, with two years to serve in community corrections after completing her prison term.
Authorities said the crash occurred at about 2:15 p.m. on Lock 17 Road in western Jefferson County. Self was crossing the street to check his mailbox when a black Ford F-150 struck him and fled the scene. He was pronounced dead at 2:39 p.m, according to AL.com.
The case shocked the small community. Investigators said Albanese was identified as a suspect after authorities received a tip. She was later arrested and charged in connection with the fatal crash. During Monday’s court proceedings, Albanese accepted responsibility for her actions, acknowledging that she was distracted by her phone when the crash occurred.
Prosecutors argued her decision to flee the scene added to the seriousness of the crime and prolonged the suffering of Self’s family. After entering her plea, Albanese was booked back into the Jefferson County Jail, where she will remain until her transfer to a state prison.
The sentencing brought some measure of closure to Self’s loved ones, who had waited nearly two years for justice in the case. Friends and neighbors remembered Self as a kind man who enjoyed spending time outdoors and was known for his friendliness in the close-knit community.
While the plea deal avoids a lengthy trial, the case underscores the dangers of distracted driving. Officials stressed that texting while behind the wheel continues to be a leading cause of crashes nationwide.
The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement that the sentence reflects both the tragic consequences of Albanese’s actions and the importance of accountability when drivers choose to disregard safety. Albanese’s case will now move forward into the corrections system, while the community remembers a life lost in an entirely preventable tragedy.