SUV, I-65, Butler Co., AL– 10

lornajarrettblanchard June 19, 2021

–10 CNN. “9 children, 1 adult killed…accident involving Alabama Girls Ranch vehicle.” 6-20-2021.
–10 Robinson/Gray. “9 children, 1 adult killed in Alabama crash…Butler County…” 6-19-2021
–10 WVTM13. “9 children…one adult dead…pileup…on I-65 in Butler County…” 6-20-2021.

Narrative Information

Robinson and Gray: “A crash on Interstate 65 in Butler County Saturday killed 10 people, nine of them ranging in age from 9-months-old to teenagers. Those killed were in a Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch vehicle and a small SUV, said Butler County Coroner Wayne Garlock. The vehicles involved in the crash were thought to have hydroplaned, officials said…. [Tropical Storm Claudette “dumped heavy rain across the Southeast on Saturday after it came ashore in southeastern Louisiana early that morning.”]

“The victims in the SUV were identified as Cody Fox, 29, and Ariana Fox. They were travelling from Marion County, Tennessee. Garlock said it appeared Cody Fox worked for the emergency management agency in his home county. Cody Fox was pronounced dead on the scene; Ariana died at the Regional Medical Center in Greenville. A native of Bryant, Alabama, Fox was the fire chief at New Hope (Tennessee) Volunteer Fire Department and plant operation manager at Tennessee Tub Factory. He lived in South Pittsburg, Tenn. His fiancé, Hayle Anderson, was injured in the wreck, family members confirmed on social media….

“The young people killed [Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch] ranged in age from 4-17, Garlock said, and many hailed from Reeltown in Tallapoosa County. Garlock would not release their names because many were in the care of the state.

“The driver who was pulled to safety was identified as Candice Gully, director of the Tallapoosa County facility, according to Michael Smith, CEO of the Alabama Sheriff’s Youth Ranches. Candice Gully’s son and daughter and her two nephews were among the dead….

“Girls from the facility were travelling in two vehicles on the way back from a trip to Gulf Shores, Smith said. The vehicle in front was involved in the deadly crash and the girls in the second vehicle did not see the carnage of the wreck, Smith said….

“The children who were killed were a combination of foster children, privately placed children and family members of chaperones, Smith said.

“Butler County Sheriff Danny Bond said the accident involved 18 vehicles — two of them 18-wheelers — and about four or five other people suffered nonfatal injuries….

“Alabama Law Enforcement Agency was notified at approximately 2:30 p.m. Saturday of a multi-vehicle crash on I-65 northbound at the 138 mile marker in Butler County….

“The girls’ ranch serves as a foster home for girls from abusive or abandonment situations, and it is supported by the sheriffs of Lee, Chambers and Tallapoosa counties. The ranch is located on Girls Ranch Road between Auburn and Lake Martin….”

WVTM 13: “Butler County, Ala. – UPDATE Sunday afternoon:

“The Butler County Coroner said the horrific crash happened during a rain storm when a vehicle hydroplaned on the bridge near the 138 mile marker in northbound lanes of I-65. This caused a chain reaction involving up to 15 vehicles. Since it was on a small bridge there was nowhere for the cars to go except forward into other vehicles.

“A bus belonging to the Alabama Sheriff Youth Services caught fire in the crash. It was carrying 8 children from ages 4-17 and one adult, who was driving. A bystander was able to pull the driver out to safety. Then he went back to try to rescue the children but the fire and smoke was too much and he could not help them. All the children perished at the scene.

“Two other fatalities were people in a black SUV, 9-month-old Ariana Fox and her father Cody Fox, age 29. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. The baby was taken to Regional Medical Center of Greenville where she was pronounced deceased at the emergency room.

“There were multiple other people in other vehicles who were injured. They were taken to various hospitals. None of those injuries were life-threatening….

“The children’s ages range from nine months to 17 years….

“The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency reported the major crash on I-65 northbound at mile marker 138 during the afternoon. That’s just southwest of Montgomery.

The Weather Channel. “Claudette Blamed in a Dozen Deaths in Alabama.” 6-20-2021”

“A man [24] and a 3-year-old child died when a tree fell on their home near Tuscaloosa, officials said.

“Ten more people died in a crash that may have been caused by the storm, a coroner said.

“A tornado destroyed or damaged 50 homes in Brewton and East Brewton, Alabama.

Sources

CNN. “9 children, 1 adult killed in interstate accident involving Alabama Girls Ranch vehicle.” 6-20-2021. Accessed 6-20-2021 at: https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/20/us/alabama-crash-10-killed-girls-ranch/index.html

Opelika-Auburn News/Timothy Noordermeer. “Tallapoosa County Sheriffs’ Girls Ranch’s new director invested in the future of residents.” 10-29-2019. Accessed 6-20-2021 at: https://oanow.com/news/local/tallapoosa-county-sheriffs-girls-ranch-s-new-director-invested-in-the-future-of-residents/article_c605342a-c28c-11e9-8e51-27e809323b80.html

Robinson, Carol and Jeremy Gray. “9 children, 1 adult killed in Alabama crash: ‘The most horrific accident in Butler County history.” al.com, 6-19-2021. Accessed 6-20-2021 at: https://www.al.com/news/2021/06/alabama-state-troopers-seek-information-on-deadly-butler-county-i-65-crash.html

The Weather Channel. “Claudette Blamed in a Dozen Deaths in Alabama.” 6-20-2021. Accessed 6-20-2021 at: https://weather.com/news/news/2021-06-20-tropical-storm-claudette-two-deaths-alabama-florida-homes-damaged-flooding

WVTM13, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, AL. “9 children and one adult dead after pileup crash on I-65 in Butler County, Alabama.” 6-20-2021. Accessed 6-20-2021 at: https://www.wvtm13.com/article/reported-fatalities-in-multi-vehicle-crash-on-i-65-in-butler-county/36775362#