By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

NORTH SHELBY – A 25-year-old Sterrett man is facing several felony charges after he 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.

Bobby Jack Bernier was taken into custody and transported by deputies to Shelby Baptist Medical Center. After the suspect was treated at the hospital, Bernier was charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance, first-degree assault, third-degree assault, leaving the scene of an accident and six counts of reckless endangerment.

Additional charges are pending against Bernier, according to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

As of Feb. 5, Bernier was being held in the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $39,000.

First-degree assault is a Class B felony, and is punishable by up to 20 years in prison upon conviction.

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.