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.
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.