Ex-NASCAR Driver Purvis In Crash That Closed I-65 For Hours

By: Paul Huggins

"CULLMAN - Former NASCAR driver Jeff Purvis and six other people were injured in a crash on Interstate 65 that closed the highway for hours.

The wreck occurred at 3:15 p.m. on Saturday near mile marker 295, four miles south of Dodge City. Purvis' customized tractor-trailer rig, which doubles as a motor home, collided with a sedan in the northbound lane.

The tractor-trailer was carrying a race car and racing fuel, which exploded and completely burned the rig.

Troopers said traffic backed up for miles.

Five-hour wait

Southbound lanes resumed traffic at 5:15, and northbound lanes re-opened three hours later.

Matt Angel, 29, of Paducah, Ky., drove the tractor-trailer. The five passengers were Robert Angel, 43, of Paducah, and Jeff Purvis, 47, Margo Purvis, 45, Clay Purvis, 15, and Ben Britt, all of Clarksville, Tenn. The driver of the sedan was Bess Copeland, 21, of Cullman.

All were injured and went to Cullman Regional Medical Center for treatment. None had life-threatening injuries, troopers said.

Purvis was bound for Talladega, where he was to compete Saturday night in a Dirt Late Model Series race at Talladega Short Track.

Gene Washer, publisher and president of the Leaf Chronicle in Clarksville, Tenn., said he is a close friend with Purvis' family and spoke with Purvis' wife, Margo, after the accident.

"According to Margo, Jeff had two fractures in his neck and two fractures in his back," Washer said.

"She was banged up a bit; his crew chief, Matt Angel, had a back injury; Jeff's son, Clay, had some bruised ribs; and one of the crew members was cut up a little bit. But they all exited safely."

Washer said Jeff Purvis was later flown to Vanderbilt University Hospital, and his wife said he appeared to be in good spirits.

"She said he was talking and moving and everything when they were putting him on the helicopter," Washer said."