Mountain Brook, Alabama — A quiet Sunday afternoon turned tragic on U.S. Highway 280 when 27‑year‑old Morgan Lakesha Hawkins of Birmingham lost her life in a single‑vehicle wreck that left the driver seriously hurt, authorities confirmed.
According to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, Hawkins was in a car headed west on Highway 280 near Cherokee Road when the vehicle suddenly lost control. For reasons still under review by investigators, the car veered off course and slammed into a guardrail on the passenger side. Emergency crews were called to the scene shortly after the crash was reported.
Firefighters from the Rocky Ridge Fire Department, officers from the Mountain Brook Police Department and troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency worked together at the scene. First responders found Hawkins suffering from fatal injuries and pronounced her dead right there on the shoulder of the busy commuter route.
The driver, whose name has not been released, was trapped inside the wrecked vehicle. Crews freed the person and rushed them to UAB Hospital in Birmingham. Officials said the driver’s injuries are significant, but details about their condition are being withheld as the hospital and police notify family members and continue treatment.
Mountain Brook police confirmed they are actively investigating the crash. At this early stage, they have not said what caused the car to spin out, and it remains unclear whether factors like speed, weather or mechanical issues played a role. Traffic investigators are expected to comb through evidence from the scene, including vehicle damage and road conditions.
Highway 280 is one of the region’s busiest roads, stretching through southeastern Jefferson County and acting as a main link between Birmingham and nearby suburbs. The section near Cherokee Road where the crash happened has seen its share of serious wrecks over the years, especially during crowded weekend traffic.
Family members have not yet released information about funeral arrangements or a memorial service for Hawkins. The Coroner’s Office says her death is the result of injuries sustained in the crash, but it has offered no other medical details.
Officials said they will update the public as investigators learn more about what happened and whether any citations or further actions will follow. In the meantime, friends and loved ones are left to grieve what began as an ordinary Sunday and turned into profound loss.
