Multivehicle Crash and Postcrash Fire on Interstate 65 - [File ID] HIR-23-05

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Eliana

Investigation report details a multivehicle crash sequence on northbound Interstate 65 near Greenville, Alabama, in Butler County, occurring around 2:21 p.m. on June 19, 2021. Ten passenger vehicles and two commercial trucks were involved, with passenger vehicles slowing or stopped in a traffic queue near a bridge crossing Pigeon Creek. Reduced visibility from light rain and wet roadway is discussed, followed by collision chain events leading to postcrash fire and 10 deaths and 19 injuries.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages22

Reading Time55 min

AccessFree to download

Factual Information

Background

Event Sequence

April 26, 2023 HIR-23-05 Multivehicle Crash and Postcrash Fire on Interstate 65 Greenville, Alabama June 19, 2021 On June 19, 2021, about 2:21 p.m. central daylight time, a series of vehicle collisions occurred in the northbound lanes of Interstate 65 (I-65) near Greenville, Alabama, in Butler County.1 This investigation focuses on one multivehicle crash sequence involving 10 passenger vehicles and 2 commercial trucks. Several passenger vehicles were slowing or had stopped due to earlier crashes, creating a traffic queue atthe northern end of the bridge that crosses Pigeon Creek. A 2020 Ford Explorer collided with a vehicle at the end of the traffic queue. A 2020 Volvo truck-tractor with a Cottrell trailer for transporting automobiles collided with the Ford Explorer, initiating a series of additional collisions in both travel lanes. A 2005 Freightliner truck-tractor/2009 Wabash dry trailer combination vehicle that was following behind the Volvo auto-transporter combination vehicle collided with several vehicles and continued into the median. The two commercial trucks and four passenger vehicles, including a 2017 transit van, came to rest in the center median (see figure 1). A postcrash fire ensued and destroyed the vehicles in the median. Ten vehicle occupants died and 19 others sustained injuries. Atthe time of the crash, there was light rain, and the roadway was wet. The posted speed limit was 70 mph. 1 (a) In this report, all times are central daylight time. (b) Visit [ntsb.gov](ntsb.gov) to find additional information in the public docket for this NTSB investigation (case no. HWY21MH009). Use the CAROL Query to search safety recommendations and investigations. Figure 1. Orthomosaic image of final rest positions of vehicles involved in crash. (Source: Alabama Law Enforcement Agency; labels added by the NTSB) Location Date Time Involved vehicles Involved people Injuries Weather Roadway information I-65 north, at the northern end of the bridge crossing Pigeon Creek near mile marker 138, near Greenville, Butler County, Alabama (see figure 2) June 19, 2021 About 2:21 p.m. 12 37 10 fatal, 2 serious, 16 minor, and 1 injured but injury level unknown (8 uninjured) Light rain Four-lane divided highway (two northbound and two southbound lanes) separated by a 46-foot-wide earthen median. The roadway was wet. Figure 2. Map showing location of crash on I-65 . (Source: Google Maps) 1. Factual Information 1.1 Background The crash occurred in the northbound lanes of I-65 near mile marker 138 at the northern end of a bridge structure that crosses over Pigeon Creek near Greenville, Butler County, Alabama (see figure 3) . In the area of the collision, I-65 is a four-lane divided highway with two lanes in each direction, separated by a 46-foot-wide earthen median. The bridge is 272 feet long and 33.2 feet wide, flanked with shoulders and curbs on both sides (see figure 3 and section 1.5.1 for additional information). The posted speed limit is 70 mph. Figure 3. Overhead view of I-65 northbound near mile marker 138. Light rain was falling at the time of the crash; earlier in the day, bands of moderate-to-heavy rain had been reported along I-65. The highway surface was wet. Video footage captured from a forward-facing camera on the 2020 Volvo auto-transporter indicated that the rain and spray from the vehicle tires on the wet road reduced visibility. 1.2 Event Sequence This investigation focuses on 10 passenger vehicles and 2 commercial trucks (see table 1) and does not include additional vehicles involved in other crashes before and after this crash sequence.2 Three of the vehicles are considered to be striking vehicles that came upon the traffic queue and struck vehicles in the queue. The precrash locations of two vehicles are unknown. Table 1. Vehicles involved in crash sequence, with abbreviated name used in report text for each vehicle. | Striking Vehicles | | | --- | --- | |

FAQs

Where and when did the multivehicle crash occur?

The crash occurred on northbound Interstate 65 near mile marker 138 near Greenville, Alabama (Butler County), about 2:21 p.m. on June 19, 2021.

How many vehicles were involved and what was the resulting impact?

The sequence involved 10 passenger vehicles and 2 commercial trucks. A postcrash fire destroyed vehicles in the center median, and 10 occupants died while 19 others were injured.

What weather and road conditions were present at the time of the crash?

Light rain was falling and the roadway was wet. Earlier in the day, bands of moderate-to-heavy rain were reported along I-65, and video indicated rain and tire spray reduced visibility.

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Eliana