Local News
34-year-old Vickie Franklin killed in St. Clair County wreck
A woman was killed and four others, including three children, were injured in a single-vehicle crash early Monday morning in St. Clair County.
According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, 34-year-old Vickie L. Franklin of Ragland was pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash occurred around 1:45 a.m. on Depot Street near Possum Trot Lane, approximately two miles north of Riverside.
Senior Trooper Brandon Bailey reported that Franklin was driving a Nissan Maxima when the vehicle left the roadway, struck an embankment, and overturned.
Authorities confirmed that Franklin was not wearing a seat belt at the time and was ejected from the vehicle, resulting in fatal injuries.
A passenger in the vehicle, 31-year-old William C. Talton of Pell City, was transported to UAB Hospital in Birmingham for treatment.
Also injured in the crash were three children, ages 12, 10, and 4, who were transported to the hospital.
The extent of their injuries has not yet been disclosed.
The crash remains under investigation by Alabama State Troopers.
Further details will be released as they become available.
Local News
29-Year-Old Alex Rodriguez Found Dead on University of Illinois at UrbanaโChampaign, No Foul Play Suspected
URBANA, Ill. โ A 29-year-old Champaign man found dead on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus Monday morning has been identified as Alex C. Rodriguez, according to the Champaign County Coronerโs Office.
The University of Illinois Police Department (UIPD) responded to the area of Green and Wright streets at approximately 6:42 a.m. after receiving a report of an unresponsive person near the Alma Mater statue.
Officers arrived and found Rodriguez on a concrete bench. Emergency medical assistance was requested at the scene.
The Champaign County Coronerโs Office responded, and Rodriguez was pronounced dead at approximately 7:16 a.m., according to Coroner Laurie Brauer.
Authorities said Rodriguez was not affiliated with the University of Illinois.
UIPD provided an update Monday afternoon, saying preliminary observations at the scene revealed no signs of foul play.
Police also said there was no evidence of an ongoing threat to the university campus or surrounding community based on the information available when officers responded.
Because investigators did not identify an active threat, the university did not issue an Illini-Alert emergency notification.
The circumstances surrounding Rodriguezโs death have not been determined.
An autopsy has been scheduled, and the death remains under investigation by the University of Illinois Police Department.
Authorities have not released additional information about the circumstances leading to Rodriguezโs death.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details are expected as investigators receive further information from the autopsy and other evidence.
No foul play has been indicated based on the preliminary investigation.