Local News
17-year-old Brody Hutto dies in off-road motorcycle crash in Toombs County
Brody Hutto, a 17-year-old from Vidalia, Georgia, died Sunday after two off-road motorcycles collided on a dirt road in Toombs County, according to authorities.
The fatal crash occurred shortly after 5 p.m. on I D Galbreath Road when Toombs County 911 received reports of a serious accident involving two teenage riders.
Investigators said the collision involved two off-road motorcycles operated by Hutto and Les Sturgis, 18, of Uvalda.
Deputies with the Toombs County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene and immediately began administering lifesaving medical care to both riders until emergency medical personnel could respond.
Officials said Toombs-Montgomery EMS later arrived and continued emergency treatment for the injured teens.
Authorities confirmed that Hutto suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sturgis sustained critical injuries in the collision and was transported by ambulance to a designated landing zone, where he was transferred to Air Evac Lifeteam Flight 91.
He was then airlifted to a hospital in Savannah for emergency medical treatment.
Because the crash involved a fatality, the Toombs County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Georgia State Patrol.
Officials said the investigation has been turned over to the Georgia State Patrol Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team, which will work to determine exactly how the two motorcycles collided and whether any contributing factors were involved.
The tragic crash has left the Vidalia and Uvalda communities mourning the loss of Hutto while also praying for the recovery of Sturgis as the investigation continues.
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.