Local News
University of Alabama Employee Rimon Garcia Found Dead in Tuscaloosa Neighborhood
Tuscaloosa, AL – Authorities are investigating the death of a University of Alabama employee who was discovered Monday morning in the Pinehurst neighborhood of Tuscaloosa.
At approximately 9:00 a.m., officers from the Tuscaloosa Police Department and University of Alabama Police Department responded to a medical call at a residence on Pinehurst Drive.
Upon arrival, they located the employee, identified as Rimon Garcia, who had been operating lawn equipment at the time.
Garcia was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences requested the involvement of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit (VCU), which routinely assists in cases where a death is unattended by medical personnel.
Capt. Jack Kennedy of the VCU stated there were no immediate signs of foul play. He emphasized that the unit’s participation is standard protocol in similar circumstances.
“In suspected non-criminal cases such as this, VCU does not normally issue statements in order to safeguard the privacy of the deceased and their families,” Capt. Kennedy explained in a statement. “An exception was made here due to the large social media presence and public interest connected to the individual’s affiliation with the university.”
No additional details have been released at this time.
The investigation remains ongoing, though authorities have reiterated that foul play is not suspected.
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.