Helena truck driver dies in Chilton Co. wreck
Published 11:42 am Monday, February 23, 2009
A Helena man who was driving a truck carrying frozen pizzas was killed after hitting a bridge support on I-65 in Chilton County early Monday morning.
State troopers have identified the man as 56-year-old Gary Lee Gibbs.
At 3:45 a.m., Gibbs was driving southbound on I-65 when his truck crossed into the median and hit a bridge support at the County Road 43 overpass. He died on the scene.
Gap of the Mountain Fire Department responded to the crash. The Chilton County Emergency Management Agency, Alabama Department of Environmental Management and Chilton County Health Department also responded and helped with the cleanup.
Alabama Department of Transportation officials were 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 wreck behind the crash site on I-65 northbound. A car apparently ran underneath an 18-wheeler and injured two people.
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, authorities said.
State troopers are investigating both crashes.