Victims identified in early morning, multi-car crash

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - Huntsville Police have identified the two victims who died in a crash Saturday.

HPD says 47-year-old Arlene Veronica Velasquez and 24-year-old Hannah Leigh Parton were identified as the two victims of the fatal wreck. The five others who were injured in the wreck were treated at Huntsville Hospital and have been released.

The multi-vehicle crash happened on I-565, near the intersection of Highway 72 at 3:00 a.m. Saturday.

Investigators say they believe a vehicle traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes on I-565 caused the wreck. The wrong-way driver first hit a vehicle and killed the passenger in that vehicle. After the first collision, the driver struck a second vehicle and killed the driver of the second vehicle.

Charges are expected at a later date pending toxicology results. When we arrived on the scene, it appeared a truck and another vehicle were involved in the wreck.

Statement from Hannah Parton’s family regarding the accident:

24-year-old Hannah Parton was tragically killed in a head-on collision by a driver going the wrong way down Interstate 565. Hannah was a daughter. She was a sister. She was a friend. The world was better with Hannah in it. She was loving, caring, funny, worked hard, and had her whole life ahead of her. We all grieve her death. Hannah’s family thanks those who have shown love and support, as well as the Huntsville Police Department for its continuing efforts to investigate the circumstances that led to this crash and caused Hannah’s death. The family asks that you keep them in your prayers and urges everyone to drive safely and consider how your actions can impact the lives of others. No life should ever be lost, and no parent should ever wake to learn of a daughter’s death, because of the careless actions of another.

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