Six people injured in Interstate 65 rollover

Published 5:16 pm Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Six people were injured in a single-vehicle wreck at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday on Interstate 65 between Clanton and Jemison.

At least one of the injuries was considered critical, as the victim was flown from the scene to UAB Hospital for treatment, according to Cpl. Jess Thornton with Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Five other people in the vehicle, which overturned, were treated for injuries.

One of the victims was ejected from the vehicle in the wreck, and another victim had to be extricated after becoming entrapped.

No update on the condition of the victims was available Tuesday.

The wreck occurred near the 217.7 mile marker.

During the official Memorial Day holiday travel period—between 6 a.m. Friday, May 27, and midnight Monday, May 30—Alabama State Troopers investigated 11 traffic fatalities, compared with the seven traffic fatalities Troopers investigated in 2015 during the same extended holiday weekend, according to a press release.

The crashes included four drivers, three passengers and four motorcyclists, and they occurred in Bullock, Coosa, Crenshaw, Cullman, Houston, Mobile and Washington counties.

Sunday, May 29, was the only zero-fatality day of the four-day weekend.

All four motorcyclists killed were using helmets, and only four of the other seven individuals killed were using seat belts.

Alcohol involvement is not available as Troopers continue to investigate the crashes.

In addition, Marine Patrol Troopers had no boating fatalities for the second Memorial Day weekend in a row.

“This was a deadly Memorial Day weekend, with almost twice the number of traffic fatalities as the previous year,” Secretary of Law Enforcement Stan Stabler said. “One death is one too many. We urge motorists to use seat belts no matter how short the drive. It also is important that everyone on a boat has a life jacket. Please help us make this a safe summer.”

While the holiday travel period is over, Troopers will continue to participate in Click It Or Ticket, a national safety campaign promoting seat-belt usage.