Local News
Mass Casualty Incident Declared at Lehigh Senior High School Due to Heat-Related Injuries
Preliminary reports suggest the students were participating in a JROTC drill when the incident occurred.
Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District, along with Lee County EMS, responded to a Level 3 Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) at Lehigh Senior High School on Thursday.
Over 20 students reportedly suffered heat-related injuries, with some collapsing on the football field.
Preliminary reports suggest the students were participating in a JROTC drill when the incident occurred.
Emergency responders quickly arrived to provide treatment, and several students were transported to nearby medical facilities for evaluation and care.
Officials have clarified that the term Mass Casualty Incident refers to an event involving five or more individuals requiring medical attention and does not imply fatalities.
No fatalities have occurred, and the situation is strictly heat-related.
This is not related to any form of violence or shooting.
Authorities and school officials are monitoring the situation closely, and updates will be provided as more details become available.
Parents and guardians concerned about their children’s well-being are encouraged to contact the school for further information.
This is a developing story.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ala. — Authorities have identified the woman killed in a fatal crash Monday morning that also left a child injured in Jefferson County.
According to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, the victim has been identified as 32-year-old Erica Nicole Austin, a resident of Birmingham.
The collision occurred early Monday morning and involved a passenger vehicle and a dump truck, said Center Point Fire District Chief Brandon Dahlen.
Emergency crews were dispatched to the scene shortly after the crash was reported.
Upon arrival, first responders found Austin critically injured. Despite efforts to assist, she was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:46 a.m.
A child who was traveling with Austin sustained injuries in the collision and was transported by Center Point Fire and Rescue to Children’s of Alabama for treatment. The child’s condition has not been released.
The driver of the dump truck was not injured, officials confirmed.
The impact of the collision led to a complete closure of the roadway for approximately five hours as authorities worked to investigate the scene and clear the wreckage.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team is leading the investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the deadly crash.
No additional details have been released at this time.