On Monday June 10th at approximately 6:19 PM, officers of the Valley Police Department were called to a traffic accident with fatalities on I-85 northbound between the 74 and 75 mile-markers. On arrival, officers found that a vehicle, traveling north, had left the roadway and had struck several workers of a grass cutting crew in the median.
Rumaldo Lopez Perez (unknown age/residence) was life-flighted from the scene to Columbus. His condition is unknown at this time. Pablo Gutierrez Cruz (44/unknown residence) and Reuben Lopez Perez (unknown age/residence) were pronounced dead on the scene.
The driver of the vehicle, Randall Shane Lankford, 44 of Valley, told officers that he was heading north in the left lane when a semi to his right attempted to merge into his lane. He left the roadway and lost control of his vehicle, causing him to hit the workers.
ALEA State Troopers and Lee County Coroner’s office are assisting in this investigation.
If anyone witnessed this accident, please contact the Valley Police Department at 334-756-5200 or the Valley Area Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP,1-833-AL1-STOP, or email at www.215stop.com
