An Athens man is facing reckless murder charges in Huntsville in connection with a fatal 2021 traffic crash.

Huntsville police today announced that Jacob Stephens, 27, has been charged with two counts of reckless murder, two counts of first degree assault, and one count of reckless endangerment.

He is being booked into the Madison County Jail.

The charges stem from a traffic crash that happened on Interstate 565 near U.S. 72 East on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. Two people were killed in the wrong-way crash that involved multiple vehicles.

According to police, Arlene Veronica Velasquez, 47, and Hannah Leigh Parton, 24, died following the incident that happened after 2:30 a.m. at the eastbound interchange between I-565 and U.S. 72.

Huntsville Police traffic homicide investigators said last year that a vehicle traveling west in the eastbound lanes on I-565 caused the wreck.

The wrong-way driver first struck a vehicle, killing a passenger in that vehicle. After hitting the first vehicle, the wrong-way driver reportedly struck a second vehicle, killing the driver of that vehicle.

Five other people were injured in the crash.