The community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of 61-year-old Maria C. Aguilar Perez, a beloved Columbus woman who tragically passed away following a multi-vehicle crash Monday evening on Alabama Highway 51. Her sudden and unexpected passing has left family members, friends, and neighbors grieving a loss that feels immeasurable.
Maria was driving her 2014 Nissan Rogue near the 82-mile marker on Hwy 51 when her vehicle was involved in a devastating head-on collision with a 2004 Lexus ES330 operated by a 64-year-old driver from Union Springs. Moments later, a 2024 Nissan Sentra, driven by a 23-year-old from Fitzpatrick, struck her vehicle in a secondary impact. Despite the quick response of emergency personnel, Maria was pronounced deceased at the scene, leaving her loved ones in deep sorrow.
The drivers of the other vehicles were transported to Baptist Medical Center South for treatment, and ALEA continues to investigate the sequence of events that led to this tragic accident. But for those who knew Maria, the focus remains on the life she lived — a life marked by warmth, resilience, and a deep love for the people around her.
Her passing has shaken the Columbus community, where Maria’s presence will be profoundly missed. Friends describe her as kind-hearted, hardworking, and devoted to her family. As investigations continue, loved ones cling to memories of her steady compassion and the light she brought into their lives.
May Maria C. Aguilar Perez be remembered with love, and may her family find strength, comfort, and peace in the difficult days ahead.
