No fewer than nine children and an adult have been confirmed dead following a fiery multi-vehicle crash on an Alabama highway as heavy storms lashed the southeastern US state.
The crash on an interstate highway near the city of Greenville involved at least 15 vehicles and may have been caused by aquaplaning under heavy rains, Butler County coroner Wayne Garlock told reporters yesterday.
Africa Daily News, New York further gathered that the dead included a father and daughter in an SUV, and eight occupants of a van carrying children from a county-run ‘girls ranch’ that included foster children.
Speaking to newsmen, Sheriff Danny Bond said; ‘This was probably the most horrific accident in Butler County history’.
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He said at least two of the vehicles involved were 18-wheel trucks, and that four or five other people had suffered nonfatal injuries.
Northbound and southbound traffic on busy Interstate 65 was halted for hours, but both had reopened by Sunday, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency tweeted.
“Our hearts are heavy today. Our ranch has suffered a great loss… Please send prayers our way,” tweeted the Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch.
The van in the accident was one of two bringing children, none older than 17, back from a Girls Ranch outing to nearby Gulf Shores, al.com reported. The other van was unscathed.
The girl’s ranch serves as a foster home for children abandoned or from abusive families.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
