Rodrigo Torrijos-Perez, Rita Faye Edwards Death and Obituary – On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, Jefferson County witnessed two tragic traffic accidents that claimed the lives of two individuals in separate incidents. The accidents occurred just hours apart, and authorities are continuing to investigate the causes behind each of them.
The first fatal incident took place shortly after 5:30 a.m. in Bessemer, Alabama, when 19-year-old Rodrigo Torrijos-Perez, a resident of Hoover, was involved in a collision on 9th Avenue North at 22nd Street. According to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, Torrijos-Perez was driving his vehicle when it collided with another vehicle. Emergency medical personnel quickly arrived at the scene and transported Torrijos-Perez to UAB Hospital. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at 7:01 a.m. Despite being rushed to the hospital, his injuries proved fatal. The Bessemer Police Department has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash, though further details have yet to be released. As of now, no information regarding the other vehicle involved has been disclosed, and it remains unclear whether weather or road conditions may have played a role in the incident. Torrijos-Perez was traveling alone at the time of the accident.
The second fatal accident occurred just hours later, at 10:35 a.m., in Pinson, Alabama. A 75-year-old woman, a resident of Birmingham, was driving her vehicle on Highway 151 at Pinson Boulevard when her car collided with another vehicle. Emergency responders quickly transported her to UAB Hospital, where she later died from her injuries at 11:13 a.m. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that they are investigating the cause of the accident. Similarly, the details surrounding the crash, such as the identity of the other vehicle involved, remain under investigation. Authorities are working to understand if any factors such as driver error, road conditions, or medical issues contributed to the fatal collision. The woman was also driving alone at the time of the crash.
Both of these incidents are particularly heartbreaking given that they involved individuals who were not accompanied by passengers. The local communities in Hoover, Bessemer, and Birmingham are mourning the loss of these residents, and the deaths have left loved ones grieving. Local authorities have expressed their commitment to conducting thorough investigations to determine the precise causes of these fatal accidents and ensure that such tragedies are prevented in the future.
At present, there is no indication that either of these accidents involved alcohol or reckless driving, but investigators are not ruling out any potential contributing factors. As both the Bessemer Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office continue their investigations, they are urging anyone with additional information to come forward.
In conclusion, the fatal accidents in Jefferson County on Wednesday serve as a somber reminder of the unpredictability of traffic incidents and the importance of road safety. The families of Rodrigo Torrijos-Perez and the 75-year-old woman are now left with the unimaginable pain of loss, and the community at large is left grappling with the tragic reality of these senseless accidents. Authorities continue to investigate these incidents in the hope of uncovering any details that might shed light on the causes and help prevent future tragedies.