Victim of weekend fiery car crash in Hoover identified

Authorities have identified the victim in a fiery single-vehicle car crash that occurred in Hoover this weekend as 24-year-old Hoover resident Christian Cooper.

He is the son of Hoover school board member Earl Cooper and Kay Cooper, principal at Vestavia Hills Elementary - Cahaba Heights.

The crash occurred Saturday, Feb. 27, at 4:20 p.m., according to Hoover police Capt. Gregg Rector. Cooper was the sole occupant of a 2007 Nissan Maxima that veered off Interstate 65 South just before the U.S. 31 exit, struck an interstate sign, crashed into a tree and immediately burst into flames, police said.

Christian Cooper suffered severe burns and is in critical condition at UAB Hospital's Trauma Burn Intensive Care Unit.

Two people stopped and pulled Cooper from his car, and several other drivers also stopped and to render first aid before rescue units arrived.

“They saved his life no doubt. He would have died if they had not gotten him out of the car,” Rector said.

Police are working to reconstruct the crash scene to determine the cause of the wreck.