(UPDATE) 3 injured as RV fire closes road near I-65
Published 9:15 pm Friday, May 19, 2017
- A Cullman City fire truck
Police are investigating a vehicle fire near Interstate 65 that injured three people Friday evening in west Cullman.
The fire was reported shortly after 7:30 p.m. Police said the fire consumed a recreational vehicle parked at a residence along Lincoln Avenue.
Lincoln Avenue runs parallel to the interstate and provides access to the Cullman Flea Market from U.S. Highway 278.
Two of the three unidentified victims were transported to UAB; a third received treatment at Cullman Regional Medical Center.
Cullman Police Chief Kenny Culpepper said smoke from the fire was spotted by an on-duty CPD patrol officer who was driving northbound on the interstate.
“At about 7:35 p.m., Officer Jonathan England was driving up I-65 toward [Alabama Highway] 157, on duty, and looked over to the west and saw smoke coming from a residence on Lincoln Avenue. The residence where the smoke was coming from is a residence where officers have responded many times, and our officers are very familiar with it,” said Culpepper late Friday.
“Officer England had already passed under the 308 exit, but Officer Phillip Botelho was doing a check at the Days Inn, which is right across the interstate from the residence. He immediately drove over there.
“The RV at the residence was on fire, and fully involved, and there was a woman lying in the road. He [Botelho] got out and was able to get her our of the road and to a place of safety. A man also was injured, and both of them were transported to Birmingham. A third person was transported to CRMC.”
The circumstances surrounding the fire are under investigation.
Cullman Police, Cullman EMS and Cullman Fire and Rescue responded at the scene.
Benjamin Bullard can be reached by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 145.
