By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A 35-year-old Calera man has been released from the Shelby County Jail on a $101,000 bond after he was arrested in late January and charged with reckless murder in connection with a 2018 crash in Alabaster.

The Alabaster Police Department arrested Allen Chase Harris, who lists an address on Shelby County 304 in Calera, on Jan. 31 and charged him with counts of reckless murder and driving under the influence of alcohol.

The arrest came several weeks after a Dec. 9, 2018, vehicle crash on U.S. 31 in Alabaster, during which Harris was allegedly driving while intoxicated when he collided with another vehicle being driven by 42-year-old Chelsea resident Marchael Vick.

Court documents do not list Harris’ blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash.

Harris was released from the county jail the same day he was arrested after posting the more-than-$100,000 bond.

He is now set to appear in court for a preliminary hearing in front of Judge Daniel Crowson on Feb. 27.

Reckless murder is a Class A felony. If convicted, Harris could face up to life in prison.