Local News
27-year-old Morgan Hawkins killed in horrific crash on US 280 in Mountain Brook
Authorities have identified the woman who was killed in a serious traffic crash Sunday afternoon along U.S. 280 in Jefferson County.
According to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, the victim was Morgan Lakesha Hawkins, a 27-year-old Birmingham resident.
The crash occurred at approximately 1:16 p.m. on U.S. 280 between Cherokee Road and Cahaba Road.
Rocky Ridge Fire District Chief Jon Lord stated that the vehicle was traveling westbound when it lost control and struck the median guardrail on the passenger side.
The force of the collision caused the guardrail to be pushed into two eastbound lanes of traffic, resulting in a significant roadway obstruction.
Both occupants of the vehicle were trapped inside following the impact.
Emergency responders worked to extricate the victims as traffic in the affected area was shut down for several hours.
Hawkins, who was seated in the front passenger seat, was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 1:45 p.m.
The driver of the vehicle, whose identity has not been released, was transported to UAB Hospital with serious injuries, officials said.
Multiple agencies responded to the incident, including the Rocky Ridge Fire District, Mountain Brook Fire and Police Departments, and Alabama State Troopers.
The crash remains under active investigation by Mountain Brook police, and additional details will be released as they become available.
Emergency crews in Bethesda, Montgomery County, responded to a serious trench collapse Tuesday at a work site in the 8100 block of Kentbury Drive, where two workers became trapped in a deep excavation.
According to initial reports, the incident involved a 10 to 12-foot-deep trench that collapsed while the workers were inside.
One victim was reported to be buried up to the waist, while the second victim was buried up to the head, creating an urgent and dangerous situation for responders.
Specialized rescue teams from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service were dispatched to the scene and initiated a technical trench rescue operation.
These types of incidents require careful stabilization of the surrounding soil and trench walls to prevent additional collapse while rescuers work to safely reach and extract the trapped individuals.
Emergency personnel secured the area and began implementing protective measures, including shoring the trench to stabilize the excavation site before attempting to free the victims.
The condition of the trapped workers has not yet been released.
Rescue operations were ongoing as crews worked methodically to remove soil and safely extricate the victims.
Officials are expected to provide further updates as the rescue effort continues and investigators determine what led to the collapse.