UPDATE: Shipping container falls onto SUV after crash at Opelika railroad overpass
A crash involving a tractor-trailer and a railroad overpass in Opelika Tuesday afternoon left a passenger vehicle heavily damaged and temporarily shut down a portion of Marvyn Parkway.
According to the Opelika Police Department, the crash occurred around 1:30 p.m. CDT Tuesday, September 22, 2026, on Marvyn Parkway near the railroad overpass.
Opelika first responders responded to the scene as crews worked to clear the roadway.
Northbound traffic was rerouted onto Williamson Avenue, while southbound traffic was diverted onto Old Columbus Road.
The driver of a black SUV, identified as Tabatha Cochran, involved in the crash later shared her account of what happened on social media.
She said she was traveling in the left lane while a tractor-trailer was traveling in the right lane when the incident occurred. According to her account, a shipping container being transported by the tractor-trailer struck the railroad bridge before falling onto her SUV.
Photos shared by Cochran show extensive damage to the roof and rear portion of the SUV, which was pushed toward the side of the roadway. A red tractor-trailer can also be seen near the railroad overpass.
Cochran said her vehicle was totaled and that she was experiencing a severe headache and body pain following the crash. She also said she was thankful her children were not in the vehicle at the time.
In her social-media post, Cochran also alleged that the shipment was an oversized load and questioned whether the truck driver and companies involved were aware of the load’s dimensions. Those claims have not been independently confirmed by CNAW2News.
Opelika Police have not released additional details regarding the circumstances of the crash, including whether any citations were issued or whether anyone was transported for medical treatment.
Images sent in by Tabatha Cochran.
Originally reported: https://cnaw2news.com/2026/09/22/crash-involving-commercial-vehicle-blocks-marvyn-pkwy-in-opelika/
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