By Lora Carroll/The Leeds News

A nine-vehicle pile up on I-20 near the Kelly Creek Bridge Brompton exit caused an approximate six-hour closing of the interstate early Sunday morning.

Moody Fire Chief James Robinson said the situation started around 3:20 a.m. Sunday morning when a single vehicle collided near the bridge and became disabled. He said the collision occurred due to what appeared to be rain on the road’s surface. Robinson said the vehicle’s two occupants, who were not seriously injured at the time, were outside of their vehicle talking to Moody police officers that had responded to the scene. He added traffic had stopped due to the vehicle being partially in the road way, but that an 18-wheeler came down the hill and once the driver recognized the incident, he was unable to stop and plowed through the scene.

Robinson said there were a number of people in the vehicles, which included three 18-wheelers and six passenger vehicles, who were injured.

“One injury was the victim of the original wreck,” said Robinson. “The victim was startled, tried to move out of the way and fell off the bridge into the ravine.” He included that the victim fell approximately 45-15 and sustained “serious, but non-life threatening injuries.”

“We used a rope rescue system to assess and rescue him,” Robinson said. “A rescuer then used a basket to evacuate him back up to the road surface.” He said the victim was then transported to the Trauma Center at UAB. Four other people were also taken to area hospitals, but were treated and released.

Robinson added that the wreck also caused approximately 100 to 150 gallons of diesel fuel to be released from the damaged 18-wheelers. The St. Clair County HAZMAT team, including units from Pell City and Springville, were called in for assistance and managed the situation.

The interstate closed at 3:15 a.m. and reopened at 8:30 a.m.

Robinson said that the incident turned from a minor situation into a complex problem, but that with mutual aid from the Moody Police and Fire Departments, the Leeds Police and Fire Departments, St. Clair County deputies, St. Clair County HAZMAT responders from Springville and Pell City and RPS Ambulance Services, they were able to respond quickly.

“A lot of people are better off because of all these people coming together to handle the problem,” said Robinson. “We can’t thank them enough for managing the situation.”

As of Tuesday afternoon, people traveling through the area where the wreck occurred reported that a foul smell was still present from the diesel fuel spill.