2 separate wrecks involving 5 total vehicles occur within 75 yards of each other

HALEYVILLE - Two separate wrecks, occurring 75 yards apart and within moments of each other on Highway 13 early Wednesday, March 2, resulted in three total injured. The first accident, occurring at 6:40 a.m. involved a 2006 Chevrolet Trailerblazer, driven by Stephen Eaton, 26, of Haleyville, who was traveling south on Highway 13 which had stopped to turn left onto County Highway 85, noted Haleyville Police Chief Rodney Lewis. While the Chevrolet had stopped to turn, it was struck from behind by a 2016 Kia, driven by Tommy Setliff, 54, of Haleyville, who was also traveling south, Chief Lewis explained. The driver told law enforcement the morning sun was in his eyes and was obstructing his vision when the collision occurred, police said. Setliff was injured and was transported from the scene by Regional Paramedical Service ambulance for treatment at Lakeland Community Hospital, Haleyville, police said. “In that area, that time of year, the sun causes a distraction,” Chief Lewis noted. This scene resulted in a second wreck that occurred in that same area of highway, the chief continued. The first vehicle involved in the second wreck was a 2005 Ford F-150 driven by Dion Turner Jr., 35, of Russellville which came upon the first wreck and stopped, Lewis said. However, a second vehicle, a 2007 Nissan Altima, driven by Kyle Nix, 35, of Spruce Pine, came upon the Ford which had stopped and was attempting to stop, but the third vehicle, a 2008 Ford Taurus, driven by Ciana McCarley, 29, of Haleyville, was unable to stop as she came upon the vehicles and struck both, according to Chief Lewis. All drivers in both accidents were traveling south on Highway 13, police said. McCarley and a female toddler in the vehicle were injured and transported from the scene by RPS to Lakeland, Lewis said. Ward's Wrecker Service of Haleyville towed the Kia from the first wreck, with Lyle's Wrecker Service, also of Haleyville towing the Altima and Taurus from the second wreck, Lewis said. “This (second wreck) was the same as the other, the sun was a distraction,” he said.