HUNTSVILLE, AL. (THECOUNT) — Matt Kimbrel, 36, a former Atlanta Braves minor league pitcher and brother of longtime Major League Baseball closer Craig Kimbrel, has been killed in a Saturday morning motorcycle crash involving a dump truck in Huntsville, Alabama.
According to the Huntsville Police Department, the fatal collision occurred when Kimbrel was riding north on U.S. Highway 431 and a dump truck began turning onto Cove Commons Drive.
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Investigators said Kimbrel was speeding as he approached the area. Police reported that he could not stop in time, lost control of his motorcycle and slid into the dump truck.
Kimbrel suffered fatal injuries in the collision. Authorities have not released additional details about the motorcycle or dump truck beyond the preliminary account of the crash.
Police said no criminal charges are anticipated in connection with the incident. The investigation remains focused on the circumstances surrounding the collision and the events leading up to the crash.
Kimbrel had a connection to professional baseball similar to his younger brother, Craig, who established a major league career as a relief pitcher and closer. Matt Kimbrel also played in the Atlanta Braves organization after being selected by the team in the 2012 MLB Draft.
According to his official Minor League Baseball player profile, Matt Kimbrel spent three seasons pitching in the minor leagues within the Braves organization. His professional baseball career placed him in the same organization where his brother began his path to the major leagues.
Craig Kimbrel became one of baseball’s most recognized relief pitchers, earning a reputation for his work as a closer during his MLB career. The brothers’ shared connection to the Braves organization adds a notable personal and baseball dimension to Matt Kimbrel’s death.
Craig Kimbrel’s professional career included time with the Atlanta Braves and several other major league organizations. On Saturday, the Kansas City Royals placed Craig Kimbrel on the bereavement list, according to Major League Baseball’s official player information.
Authorities have not publicly released additional information about funeral arrangements, family statements or the precise circumstances surrounding the moments immediately before the motorcycle collided with the dump truck.
Huntsville police have not indicated that criminal charges are expected in the case. The available preliminary information identifies speed, Kimbrel’s inability to stop and the motorcycle’s subsequent loss of control as factors in the collision, according to investigators.
The crash occurred in Huntsville, a major city in northern Alabama and the seat of Madison County. U.S. Highway 431 serves the Huntsville area, which is part of the broader Tennessee Valley region near the Alabama-Tennessee border.
Google Maps: U.S. Highway 431 and Cove Commons Drive, Huntsville, Alabama
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