One person was killed Wednesday evening after a vehicle left southbound Interstate 459 in Bessemer, struck a tree and burst into flames, shutting down the highway near Exit 6. No other injuries were reported in the crash, which happened just before 7 p.m. near Morgan Road.
The crash occurred around 6:45 p.m. on I-459 southbound near Exit 6 at Morgan Road, according to WVTM 13. The vehicle ran off the highway just before the exit before hitting the tree and catching fire, the Bessemer Fire Department told WBRC. ABC 33/40 similarly reported the fatal crash happened near Exit 6, known locally as the Helena-Bessemer exit.
Lanes Shut Down, Shoulder Opened for Traffic
Multiple lanes were blocked in the immediate aftermath of the crash, and the closures soon expanded. The station's report noted that all southbound lanes of I-459 were ultimately closed, though authorities allowed vehicles to pass along the far-left shoulder while crews worked the scene.
No other injuries were reported, and officials have not said what caused the vehicle to leave the roadway. Authorities have also not released the identity of the person who died, and the investigation remained ongoing as of the latest reporting.
Another Deadly Crash in the Area
This is not the first fatal wreck in the area in recent months. A two-vehicle crash on Morgan Road in Bessemer left one driver dead and another injured, according to a separate WVTM 13 report, with authorities investigating that incident as well. In August, at least one person was killed when a vehicle overturned and caught fire on I-459 near Liberty Parkway in Vestavia Hills, the same outlet reported at the time.
Details on what led to Wednesday's crash, including the cause and the identity of the victim, have not been released. WBRC reported that all southbound lanes were closed for a few hours and that the road was open at the time of its report.
