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At around noon on Friday, a three-vehicle crash occurred on the I-85 interstate between Exit-77 and Exit-79. According to Lanett PD Patrol Commander Richard Casner, the rain is the likely cause of the three-car collision, which occurred in the southbound lanes of the interstate. 

One of the cars swerved into the northbound lane near Exit 77 of Valley. 

“[The southbound lanes] were closed for a short time until we could get one of the cars cleared up, and then we opened one lane. Once we were able to get the other car off of the cable barrier, the whole thing was open.”

Both Lanett and Valley PD responded.  Casner said there was a question on which city would work the crash, as the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency had been on seen but left the investigation to the cities. Lanett PD then took over the crash site’s southbound and northbound parts. 

There were no reported injuries in any of the vehicles. The lanes have since been cleared. 

Casner said the cause of the accident is still under investigation. 

However, he added, “It has a lot to do with the weather. Just rain and people not slowing down.”

There was a separate crash on I-85 further into Valley around 30 minutes after the three-car accident, according to Valley Police Chief Mike Reynolds, due to the weather as well.

“Usually when it starts raining, the accidents will pick up out there because folks aren’t paying attention, and they got to try to stop and slide into each other,” Reynolds said.