By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

NORTH SHELBY—A man has been arrested in connection with a five-car accident on U.S. 280 that left four people injured in the early morning hours of Dec. 11.

Alabama State Troopers arrested Jacob Harrell Hubbard, 22, of Talladega, on Dec. 11 and charged him with three counts of felony assault for allegedly causing the crash while driving under the influence of alcohol.

At 5:30 a.m. on Dec. 11, Hubbard’s 2002 Dodge Ram Truck allegedly rear-ended a 2005 GMC Sierra on U.S. 280 at Highland Lakes Drive. The collision “caused a chain reaction wreck” involving three other vehicles, Senior Trooper Chuck Daniels said.

The 77-year-old driver of the GMC Sierra was injured during the wreck and transported to UAB for treatment. Hubbard and both passengers in his vehicle also sustained injuries. Hubbard and one passenger were sent to Grandview Medical Center for treatment and the other passenger was transported to UAB.

After he was released from the hospital, Hubbard was arrested and charged with one count of first-degree assault and two counts of second-degree assault.

“(They) charged him with that based on the injuries that one of his occupants suffered,” Daniel said of the first-degree assault charge, explaining it is “a category of DUI.”

Hubbard’s blood-alcohol level has not been released as it is part of the ongoing investigation, Daniel said.

Hubbard was placed in the Shelby County Jail on Dec. 11 and released on Dec. 14 after posting the $45,000 bond.

First-degree assault is a Class B felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison upon conviction. Second-degree assault is a Class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison upon conviction.

Hubbard is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing in front of Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Dan Reeves at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 6, 2016.