Hoover Police warn drivers after five-day string of I-459 crashes

Hoover Police Department Captain Daniel Lowe urged motorists to exercise caution on Interstate 459 following a five-day period marked by multiple collisions in the Birmingham suburb.

A preliminary investigation determined that one person died on Monday morning after being struck while changing a tire on the shoulder. Several others sustained injuries in that specific incident. Police identified two additional crashes on the preceding Thursday. In one of those Thursday accidents, a woman standing outside her vehicle was hit and transported to a hospital for treatment.

During a Monday afternoon video report near the Galleria exit, WBRC reporter Brady Talbert observed a vehicle spin out on the roadway. Talbert contacted 911, and medics were subsequently dispatched to treat a driver for a minor ankle injury.

Captain Lowe emphasized that the loss of life was a tragic event for the department and the families involved. He stated that officers must process such incidents alongside the grieving families.

Lowe advised drivers involved in interstate accidents to remain in their vehicles whenever possible. He noted that staying inside provides the protection of seatbelts and airbags. If drivers must exit their cars, he recommended moving as far from the road as possible, such as behind a guardrail or up an embankment, while waiting for first responders.

The captain also reviewed Alabama’s Move Over Law, which applies to police cars, fire trucks, tow trucks, and other emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights. The law requires drivers to either change lanes completely or reduce their speed by at least 15 miles per hour below the posted limit.

Lowe cited a ticket issued on Monday to a driver holding a cellphone as a reminder to avoid distracted driving.