A Georgia woman is recovering at a Birmingham hospital after surviving a violent multi-vehicle chain reaction on Interstate 20 in St. Clair County, Alabama, that claimed the life of her companion. State troopers identified the survivor as 22-year-old Jennisfer Vanessa Vasquez of Lithia Springs, Georgia.
The incident unfolded around 12:02 a.m. on Sunday, September 20, 2026, near the 152-mile marker within the Cook Springs city limits. Vasquez and 21-year-old Jose Daniel Hernandez Reyes were traveling together when their car crashed on the interstate.
After the initial wreck, both Vasquez and Reyes exited the disabled vehicle and walked onto the roadway. Navigating an unlit stretch of Interstate 20 at midnight created an immediate hazard for the two stranded passengers.
Moments later, a 2025 Toyota Camry driven by a Georgia man entered the crash area and hit Reyes, who was standing directly in the lane. The impact killed Reyes on the spot before paramedics could arrive.
The incoming Camry then plowed into a stationary, unoccupied 2014 Nissan Sentra resting in the roadway. The force of that second impact bounced the car forward, ultimately striking Vasquez where she stood near the wreckage.
First responders rushed Vasquez to UAB Hospital in Birmingham to treat her injuries. Medical staff have not released details regarding her current condition, though she remained hospitalized through Sunday.
Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Highway Patrol Division shut down the eastbound lanes of Interstate 20 while accident reconstruction teams worked the scene. Investigators are examining vehicle speeds, road visibility, and lighting conditions to determine how the secondary crash occurred.
Both Vasquez and Reyes shared a home address in Lithia Springs, Georgia, a suburb located about twenty miles west of Atlanta. Georgia and Alabama state officials continue to review the police reports as the formal investigation remains open.
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