In a tragic incident on Tuesday afternoon, authorities in Athens reported that a mother and her child lost their lives in a single-vehicle accident, while another child sustained injuries. The collision occurred around 4:05 PM on U.S. 72, approximately six miles west of Athens, in Limestone County, near Lakeview Street.
According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), the driver, identified as 24-year-old Maria Alonzo-Perez from Athens, suffered fatal injuries when her 2003 Ford Expedition veered off the roadway and struck a culvert. Following the initial impact, the vehicle overturned and subsequently collided with several trees and a roadside sign. Tragically, Alonzo-Perez was pronounced dead at the scene, and it was noted that she was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.
Additionally, a 5-year-old passenger in the vehicle, who was also not properly secured, succumbed to serious injuries and was declared dead at the scene. Another child, aged 6, was injured in the crash and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The Highway Patrol Division of ALEA is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding this devastating collision, but further details have yet to be released.