1 dead, 2 injured in two separate accidents in Opelika

According to Opelika police, one person died and two others were injured in two separate accidents on Friday.

The first accident occurred around 2:41 p.m. on I-85 North just before exit 58.

When officers rushed to the scene of the accident involving both vehicles, they found that the driver of one of the vehicles was unresponsive.

Opelika Fire Department paramedics performed life-saving measures and transported the driver to East Alabama Medical Center. The driver later died from his injuries.

Frank Lee, director of the Macon County EMA, identified the driver as 57-year-old Narendrakumar Patel of Auburn. Lee said Patel was a former business owner in the city of Tuskegee.

According to Opelika police, the driver of the second vehicle was also taken to East Alabama Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

The second accident occurred 12 minutes later on Marvyn Parkway at Gateway Drive.

Opelika police said they received a call involving a car and a motorcycle.

When officers arrived, they found the motorcyclist lying on the road with serious injuries.

The driver was transported to Piedmont Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment of his injuries. The condition of his injuries is currently unknown.

Both accidents remain under investigation by the Opelika Police Department’s Traffic Homicide Investigation Unit.

If you have any information regarding these incidents, please contact the Opelika Police Department at (334) 705-5200 or the Secret Witness Hotline at (334) 745-8665. Tips can be submitted through the Opelika Police Mobile App. You may wish to remain anonymous.