National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released an report that contains findings relating to the June 19 2021 multi-vehicle crash that resulted in the deaths of 10 people along Interstate Highway 65 near Greenville.
In the report released on 26 April in the report, the NTSB investigation found that the most likely cause for the crash was due to the dangerous speed of several vehicles in rain, low visibility and muddy road conditions. The post-crash fire that occurred within the passenger van that was involved in the crash found to have been the primary cause of the deaths of 10 victims of the accident.
The eight Tallapoosa Girls Ranch van occupants three-year-old, eight-year-old 12 year old, 14 year old, a 15-year old, two 16-year olds and a 17-year-old were killed in a fire and collision-related injuries. The driver of the van Candice Gulley escaped but suffered serious injuries. Ford Explorer passengers, Cody Fox 29 and his 9-month-old daughter were declared dead at the scene.
“Our heart is heavy this morning,” Ranchers’ representatives shared on Facebook following the accident. “Our ranch has suffered a devastating loss. Many of you have read that one of our vehicles on the ranch has been involved in a multi-car accident earlier today. Send us prayers to help us navigate this challenging moment in time .”
The accident occurred in the northbound lane on I-65 at mile marker number 138, which is located at the northernmost point of a bridge that crosses Pigeon Creek in Butler County. Ten passenger cars and two commercial truck were involved in the accident. Three of them three – a new 2020 Ford Explorer, a 2005 Freightliner Cascadia and an 2020 Volvo truck-tractor are thought to be struck vehicles that made their way through the traffic line and hit vehicles at the end of the line.
“As both the Ford Explorer and the Volvo auto-transporter crossed the bridge, a number of other vehicles ahead at the northern end on the bridge were slowed down, were stopped or were involved in minor collisions, leading to an unending traffic jam,” the report described.
7 passenger cars waited in a line in the midst of passengers waited as the Ford Explorer and Volvo auto-transporter made their way to the bridge, at a speed that was recorded as higher than the limit posted at 70 miles an hour (MPH).
The report details the circumstances and timeframe for the incident. It was reported that the Ford Explorer struck a waiting Acura TLX, creating a series of crashes. The Volvo driver slowed and then steered left before hitting the Ford Explorer at around 51 MPH.
The subsequent flurry of crashes caused vehicles to be swarming across the road and off of it. After the crash the post-crash fire broke out and engulfed six vehicles in the median, causing massive heat-related and fire-related damages.
“Witness photos show the fire first burning on one part of the Freightliner truck,” the report continued. “However there was no way to pinpoint the exact location of the fire nor the precise ignition source was identified due to the size and severity of the destruction .”
As per the NTSB report, post-crash toxicological tests showed no impairment in the drivers. Steering and brake maneuvers indicate drivers tried to avoid collisions. Although the smoke damage obscured some evidence, there were no mechanical defects or flaws were discovered that could have led to the crash.
The report reveals that in 2020 28 percent of fatal accidents within the United States were speeding related. Speeding was deemed to be a factor in more fatal crashes that occurred on wet roads which are dry roads.
Rain was light during the incident. The road was in good shape however, it was noted that the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) has observed an increase in number of crashes involving vehicles when roads are flooded.
To view the full report, visit www.ntsb.gov/investigations.
The article NTSB announces 2021 report on fatal crashes involving multi-vehicles was first published in The Andalusia Star-News.
