A man who was driving a truck carrying frozen pizzas was killed when the truck struck a bridge support near the 215-mile marker on I-65 early this morning.

Chilton County Coroner Randy Yeargan has not officially released the name of the victim because the next of kin had not been notified; however, state troopers have identified the man as 56-year-old Gary Lee Gibbs of Helena. He was driving 2007 International 4700.

At 3:45 a.m., he was driving southbound on I-65 when the vehicle went into the median and hit a bridge support at the County Road 43 overpass just north of the Clanton rest areas. He died on the scene.

Gap of the Mountain Fire Department responded to the crash. Other agencies including the Chilton County Emergency Management Agency, Alabama Department of Environmental Management and Chilton County Health Department responded to the crash to participate in the cleanup.

Alabama Department of Transportation officials were also called to inspect the bridge.

The crash shut down several lanes of the interstate even though the road was never completely blocked.

The resulting merging delays caused another crash behind the crash site on I-65 northbound. A car apparently ran underneath an 18-wheeler and injured two.

Gap of the Mountain Fire Department was also called to the crash and had to use extrication tools to remove the victims. Neither person faced life-threatening injuries.

State troopers are investigating both crashes.

— Brent Maze can be reached at brent.maze@clantonadvertiser.com.