In Daphne, Alabama, a mother was struck and killed by a vehicle while attempting to retrieve luggage that had fallen onto the highway from her vehicle.
The victim, identified as 47-year-old Elizabeth Atkinson, was involved in the accident early on Tuesday morning, January 2, 2024, on Highway 181 near Rigsby Road.
Atkinson, her two daughters, Emma and Ally, and their two friends had just left for a “girls’ vacation” when the accident occurred around 6:20 a.m.
It is believed that a piece of luggage fell out of the back of the truck and opened on the highway, scattering clothing across the road. While Atkinson and another family member were trying to pick up the clothes, she was tragically hit by a vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle that struck Atkinson was returning home from an overnight work shift. According to Captain Reginald Ardis of the Daphne Police, there are no indications that speeding, drugs, or alcohol played a role in the accident. The police department is conducting an investigation, including a review of the vehicle’s electronic data recorder to determine its speed at the time of the accident.
Residents of the area where the accident occurred expressed their sorrow and extended thoughts and prayers to Atkinson’s family, describing the event as a tragic and sad occurrence.
The Daphne Police Department, while not immediately identifying the victim, confirmed Atkinson’s identity in a subsequent social media post.
The department has emphasized that the incident appears to be an accident, with no immediate indications of fault.