Local News
18-year-old Fairmont High School student Ta’nyah Pittman Killed in Robeson County Crash
ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. — Authorities are investigating a deadly single-vehicle crash in Robeson County that claimed the life of an 18-year-old Fairmont High School student Saturday evening.
According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, troopers responded to the crash on Lizzie Road near Iona Church Road, west of Fairmont, shortly after it occurred.
First Sgt. S.B. Lewis said an on-scene investigation determined that a 2013 Kia was traveling westbound on Lizzie Road when the vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway for reasons still under investigation.
Authorities said the vehicle struck a ditch before overturning multiple times.
Following the violent rollover, the car came to rest upside down in a nearby field.
Troopers identified the front-seat passenger as 18-year-old Ta’nyah Lynn Pittman of Fairmont.
Investigators said Pittman was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and was partially ejected through the vehicle’s sunroof during the rollover.
Emergency personnel with Robeson County EMS pronounced Pittman dead at the scene. Her body was later transported to UNC Health Southeastern.
The driver of the Kia suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to McLeod Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Authorities have not publicly released the driver’s identity.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said charges are pending as investigators continue reviewing the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.
The deadly rollover accident remains under active investigation.
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.