By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

CHELSEA – A multi-vehicle crash that shut down three lanes of U.S. 280 near Walmart in Chelsea for several hours May 12 led to two fatalities and two others injured.

The crash claimed the lives of John Vernon Alexander, 81, and his wife, Carolyn Johnson Alexander, 74, of Sterrett, according to an Alabama State Troopers press release.

John Alexander was driving a 2007 Toyota Corolla when it was struck by a 2010 Ford F-250 driven by Donald A. Hardin, 68, of Bessemer at about 1 p.m.

Alexander was pronounced dead at the scene, and Carolyn Alexander was transported to UAB Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries, according to the release.

Hardin was not injured.

Others involved in the wreck, Frederick Reid Tatum, 65, of Birmingham, and Lizabeth Lee Crawford, 42, of Harpersville, were transported to area hospitals for treatment. Erica Lashun Scott, 43, of Chelsea was not injured.

The crash involved at least five vehicles and resulted in the closure of both westbound lanes and one eastbound lane of U.S. 280 until about 5 p.m. May 12.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, traffic task force and Alabama State Troopers responded to the crash.

No more information is available as Alabama State Troopers continue the investigation.