By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

NORTH SHELBY – Criminal charges are pending against a suspect who allegedly caused a vehicle crash closing portions of Cahaba Valley Road on Feb. 4.

At about 3 p.m. on Feb. 4, a Shelby County Sheriff’s deputy directing school traffic on Cahaba Valley Road near Keith Drive observed a vehicle driving recklessly through traffic, according to a Sheriff’s Office press release.

The deputy attempted to stop the vehicle. However, when the vehicle refused to stop, it struck three other vehicles on the roadway.

A passenger riding in the suspect’s vehicle was transported to UAB Hospital and is in critical condition, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

A driver of a separate vehicle received non-life-threatening injuries, and was transported to Shelby Baptist Medical Center.

The suspect driver was taken into custody and transported by deputies to Shelby Baptist Medical Center.

The multi-vehicle accident resulted in Cahaba Valley Road being temporarily closed as fire and rescue personnel assisted the patients, followed by traffic collision investigators assessing the scene. The roadway was re-opened at approximately 5:40 p.m.