Victims identified in fiery four-vehicle weekend crash

Published 11:26 am Monday, October 29, 2018

By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

PELHAM – Authorities have released the identities of three people who died in a fiery four-vehicle crash on Interstate 65 between Pelham and Alabaster on Oct. 27.

Alabama state troopers responded to the crash in the northbound lanes of the interstate near the 241 mile marker at about 1:40 p.m. on Oct. 27.

Troopers confirmed there were two fatalities on the scene, and one person who was airlifted to UAB Hospital died of her injuries shortly after 7 p.m. Another person was transported to Shelby Baptist Medical Center.

Shelby County Coroner Lina Evans identified the victims as 71-year-old Kentucky resident Janet Manning, 58-year-old Georgia resident Debbie Decker and 35-year-old Georgia resident Jacqueline Waters.

The crash forced troopers to close I-65 northbound, causing traffic to be diverted onto U.S. 31 between exits 238 and 242 for several hours. The interstate had reopened to traffic by about 8:30 p.m.

“Police officers are working traffic control in other parts of the city to try to alleviate congestion. Please be patient if you are traveling anywhere in the Pelham City Limits,” read a Pelham Fire Department Facebook post shortly after the crash.

In addition to state troopers and the PFD, the Pelham Police Department, Alabaster Fire Department and Alabaster Police Department responded to the wreck.