On a Thursday afternoon in the Rock Creek area, 55-year-old Teddy Eugene Self was struck and killed by a vehicle while he was checking his mail on Lock 17 Road in Bessemer, Alabama. The male victim's life was cut short on September 22, 2022, when the driver responsible fled the scene, leaving behind a community in shock and a family in mourning. First responders arrived to find Self, who was pronounced dead less than 15 minutes after the impact.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation into the fatal hit-and-run. Through their efforts, which were aided by a crucial tip from the public, they identified a suspect. Investigators determined that Tammy Albanese, a 53-year-old woman from Bessemer, was the driver of the black F-150 that struck Self. A search of her phone records revealed she had been texting at the moment she hit him as he crossed the street.
Warrants for Albanese's arrest were issued on September 29, 2022, charging her with reckless manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident with injuries. She was arrested and taken to the Jefferson County Jail in Bessemer, and was subsequently released after posting a $45,000 bond. Later, Tammy Albanese, then 56, entered a guilty plea. She was convicted of reckless manslaughter and sentenced to 20 years in prison, with eligibility for parole after three years. For the charge of leaving the scene of an accident causing injury or death, she received a 10-year sentence, with the possibility of parole after two years. After entering her plea, Albanese was taken back into custody to await transfer to a state prison.
