By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

CALERA – A Bessemer man was killed during an accident involving three vehicles near Interstate 65 exit 228 in Calera about 12:45 p.m. July 5.

James Barnett, 26, was pronounced dead on arrival after the wreck involving a van and two large trucks. Barnett was the passenger of a 1990 Ford Clubwagon driven by Shelby resident Donald Hughes, 44, who was transported to UAB Hospital, according to a release from the Alabama Department of Public Safety.

The van’s two other passengers, Bessemer resident April Barnett, 20, and Alabaster resident William Garrison, 40, were also transported to UAB Hospital.

Jerry Brunson, 52, of Byhalia, Ms., who was driving a 2005 Freighliner TTR, was transported to Shelby Baptist Medical Center for injuries sustained during the accident.

Auburn resident Dexter Johnson, 44, who was driving a 2012 Kenworth TTR, was not injured during the wreck.

One northbound lane of Interstate 65 opened three hours after the crash, and the other lane opened four hours after due to bridge repairs, according to a release from the Alabama Department of Public Safety.