A Tennessee couple killed Saturday night on Interstate 65 near Decatur “didn’t know what hit them,” according to Limestone County Coroner Mike West.

Driver Becky Gentry, 50, and passenger Robert L. Gentry, 53, both of Nolensville, Tenn., were northbound on 65 when their Acura was struck head-on by a Honda Accord driven by Matthew Hallmark, 21, of Cullman.

Hallmark was southbound on 65 after exiting Interstate 565 when he lost control, left the road, crossed the median and collided with the Gentrys’ car.

“They didn’t know what hit them,” West said of the Gentrys. “There was nothing they could do.”

The impact of the crash killed all three, he said.

A bystander pulled Hallmark from his vehicle because it was on fire, West said. The Gentrys had to be removed from their wrecked vehicle, he said.

The Gentrys were wearing seat belts but Hallmark was not, according to a state trooper spokeswoman.

Troopers shut down the northbound lane until about 1 a.m. Sunday.