A Tennessee father and his infant daughter were killed along with eight children in a horrific 15-car pileup crash on an Alabama highway over the weekend.
Cody Fox, 29, of New Hope, Tennessee, and his 9-month-old daughter were identified in a press release issued by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency on Sunday night.
The other victims in the crash were children aged between 3 and 17, who were traveling in a vehicle belonging to a ranch for neglected or abused school-age children, authorities said.
The crash happened on Interstate 65 about 120 miles southwest of Camp Hill, Alabama, where the ranch is located.
“Yesterday, was an extremely heartbreaking day for the state of Alabama as 10 lives were tragically lost in one horrific event,” ALEA’s Secretary of Law Enforcement Hal Taylor said in the release.
“It was a difficult and unimaginable scene for many, and our thoughts and prayers are with all involved as we continue to investigate and provide closure for those affected.”
The National Transportation Safety Board sent 10 investigators to the scene in Butler County to work in coordination with the Alabama Highway Patrol, the agency said. The “investigation will focus on vehicle technologies such as forward collision warning systems, CMV fuel tank integrity, motor carrier operations and occupant survivability,” according to the NTSB.
At least 17 vehicles, including two commercial vehicles, were involved in the incident on I-65 northbound at mile marker 138, according to the ALEA release.
ALEA’s Taylor said that investigations such as this are the most difficult part of the agency’s job.
“I would like to offer my sincerest condolences to the friends and families of loved ones lost in Saturday’s terrible crash, as well as my gratitude to all of the first responders and volunteers who quickly and valiantly responded to the scene,” Taylor said.