Local News
19-Year-Old Damira Hammonds Killed in Fiery Crash on Monetta Street in Aiken
AIKEN, S.C. — A 19-year-old Aiken woman was killed Monday night after the vehicle she was driving left the roadway and crashed into a tree before catching fire, according to the Aiken County Coroner’s Office.
The fatal single-vehicle crash occurred at approximately 9:12 p.m. in the 400 block of Monetta Street. A Honda Civic was traveling northbound when it veered off the roadway, struck a tree and burst into flames.
The driver was identified as Damira Hammonds, 19, of Aiken.
She was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 9:43 p.m.
A passenger in the Honda Civic survived the crash and was transported to a hospital for treatment of injuries. Authorities have not released additional information about the passenger’s condition.
The Aiken County Coroner’s Office said an autopsy is expected to be scheduled later this week in Newberry to assist in determining the official cause of death.
The Aiken County Coroner’s Office and South Carolina Highway Patrol are investigating the crash. Officials have not released additional details about what caused the Honda Civic to leave the roadway.
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.