Highway 43 Closed in Both Directions After Fiery Crash Tuesday

All lanes of U.S. Highway 43 are closed after a major crash at Paul Howell Road not far from Lake Tuscaloosa, police sources said Tuesday morning.

Deputy Jessica McDaniel, a spokesperson for the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office, said the wreck involved two vehicles and both were on fire as on 6:45 a.m. Tuesday.

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She said TCSO, the Northport Police Department and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency State Troopers all responded to the collision.

No information on the condition of the victims involved was available early Tuesday morning.

McDaniel said anyone who must travel in the area can bypass the scene of the accident and related road closures by taking Mitt Lary Road or Lary Lake Road.

"Cap" Ray Allen, Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa's traffic reporter, said sources told him a passenger vehicle collided with a larger truck, possibly a tractor-trailer, slid under it at least partially and caught fire.

Cap Ray also said one of the vehicles involved may have been carrying live ammunition that is burning off in the fire, making efforts to douse the vehicles a difficult prospect.

UPDATE, 10:10 A.M.: The Northbound Lane of Highway 43 has reopened, according to State Troopers. Please continue to use caution in the area.

UPDATE, 2 P.M.: Both lanes of Highway 43 are now open again after the Tuesday morning wreck. Police say no one was seriously injured in the fiery collision.

Stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread for updates on this wreck as they become available.