Local News
21-Year-Old Cierra Brena Anthony Killed in Multi-Vehicle Crash on I-359 in Tuscaloosa
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Tuscaloosa Police Department has confirmed that a 21-year-old Cierra Brena Anthony from Tuscaloosa was killed early Sunday morning in a tragic multi-vehicle collision involving seven vehicles on Interstate 359.
According to investigators, the initial crash occurred around 2:00 a.m., when the victim’s vehicle collided with another car on the southbound side of I-359.
Authorities said the woman and the other driver had exited their vehicles following the initial impact and were standing on the roadway when a secondary collision involving five additional vehicles took place.
“The victim and the other driver were struck by vehicles involved in the second crash,” Tuscaloosa Police said in an official statement.
Emergency personnel responded quickly to the scene.
Cierra was pronounced dead at the site of the crash, while five others were transported to DCH Regional Medical Center with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.
The southbound lanes of I-359 were temporarily closed throughout the morning as crews worked to clear the scene and investigators began their assessment.
The Tuscaloosa Police Department’s Traffic Homicide Unit is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Northport Police Department’s Traffic Homicide Unit.
The investigation into the cause of the crash remains ongoing.
Local News
29-Year-Old Alex Rodriguez Found Dead on University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, No Foul Play Suspected
URBANA, Ill. — 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 Coroner’s 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 Coroner’s 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 Rodriguez’s 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 Rodriguez’s 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.