Tuscaloosa Police Identify 2 Victims of Deadly Weekend Accidents, Including Student

The Tuscaloosa Police Department has identified the victims of two fatal wrecks in the city this weekend, including the University of Alabama student who died while crossing a local road Saturday afternoon.

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The weekend saw three fatal crashes, including an 18-year-old who died in a pre-dawn single-vehicle accident near Brent. That wreck was investigated by ALEA State Troopers, who do not identify juvenile victims.

The second deadly accident came Saturday afternoon, when 19-year-old Megan Elisabeth Giles was crossing Jack Warner Parkway near the Tuscaloosa River Market. She was struck by a driver in a case still being investigated by the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit.

Giles was a UA student from Jackson’s Gap in Tallapoosa County.

Lastly, TPD said 21-year-old Cierra Brena Anthony was killed this morning on Interstate 359 near its ramps to I-20/59 in a pileup crash involving 7 total vehicles.

Stephanie Taylor, a spokesperson for TPD, said Anthony was a passenger in a Dodge Charger which was rear-ended in the first of two accidents. When she and the driver exited the car to check on the other vehicle's occupants, another crash occurred involving five more vehicles.

The impact of those collisions pushed the car into Anthony, causing fatal injuries.

"In all, seven vehicles were involved. Five drivers and/or occupants were transported to DCH with injuries that do not appear life-threatening," Taylor said. "Two drivers were charged with driving under the influence. The investigation being conducted by TPD’s Traffic Homicide Unit is ongoing. The response included 26 TPD officers, members of TPD’s Cyber Intelligence Divisions Drone Response Unit and Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue. Northport Police Department’s Traffic Homicide Unit responded to assist, as well as officers from UAPD."

The interstate remained closed to traffic from when the crash happened around 3:30 a.m. until 9:50 a.m. Sunday.

Our thoughts are with the loved ones of all the young victims of these tragic accidents.

For more coverage of news in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.