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UPDATE: A multi-vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 6:38 a.m. Monday, Dec. 9, has claimed two lives and injured nine other individuals. Corbin H. Hamby, 49, of Salem, was fatally injured when the 2022 Ford E-450 transport van, he was a passenger in, collided head-on with the 2004 Ford F-150 pickup driven by Tyrone A. Williams, 53, of Opelika. Tyrone A. Williams was also fatally injured as a result of the crash.

Hamby and Williams were both pronounced deceased at the scene. After the initial impact, the Ford transport van then collided with the 2006 Nissan Xterra driven by Wesly D. Downs, 37, of Opelika.

The driver of the Ford transport van Jeanette J. Washington, 60, of Lanett, was injured and transported to East Alabama Medical Center (EAMC) in Opelika. Christopher C. Sanders, 42, of Opelika, Brandy Hunt, 41, of Opelika, Jodie Baker, 39, of Opelika, and Jerry Hunt, 34, of Opelika, were all passengers in the Ford transport van, were injured and transported to EAMC for treatment.

Ashley Nellons, 39, of Opelika, Carlton Smith, 34, of Opelika, Jadarious Madden, 41, of Opelika, and Cornelius L. Lockhart, 36, of Opelika, were also passengers in the Ford transport van, were injured and transported Piedmont Columbus Regional – Midtown in Columbus, Ga., for treatment.

The crash occurred on U.S. 29 near the 194-mile marker, approximately one mile north of Opelika, in Lee County. Nothing further is available as Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.

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The Lee County Coroner’s office confirmed that a crash involving a Valley Haven School bus, which took place at approximately 6:54 a.m. on Monday morning, resulted in the death of two men.

The multi-vehicle crash took place in Beulah on Highway 29 near mile marker 194. One of the deceased was the driver of a Ford F150, Tyrone Williams, 53, of Opelika. Corbin Hamby Jr., 49, of Salem also died and was a passenger in the Valley Haven bus at the time of the accident. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

The northbound lane of the roadway was closed, but it was back open as of 2:43, according to an Alabama Law Enforcement Agency press release.

The deceased will be transported to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences Montgomery Medical Facility for a postmortem exam. State Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) will be investigating the cause of the crash.

This story is continuing to develop, and we will update this story as more information becomes available.

The Valley Haven School provides educational instruction and training to those with intellectual or developmental delays and disabilities.