Columbus — The tight-knit Columbus community is reeling after the loss of 61-year-old Maria C. Aguilar Perez, who was killed Monday evening in a devastating multi-car crash on Alabama Highway 51. According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), Perez was driving a small SUV when her vehicle was struck head-on, then hit a second time by a third car. Officials pronounced her dead at the scene.
The wreck unfolded around 7 p.m. on December 8, about three miles west of Hurtsboro, Alabama, along Highway 51 in rural Bullock County, Alabama. First, Perez’s SUV collided head-on with a car driven by 64-year-old Eric Ousley from nearby Union Springs. Moments later, a 2024 Nissan Sentra — piloted by 23-year-old Kelsey Bozeman of Fitzpatrick — barreled into Perez’s vehicle in a secondary impact.
Emergency responders arrived swiftly, but Perez’s injuries were too severe; she was pronounced dead on the spot. The other two drivers — Ousley and Bozeman — were rushed to Baptist Medical Center South in Montgomery for treatment. Their conditions were not detailed in the initial reports.
As investigators from ALEA begin working to piece together exactly what happened, questions remain about how a routine drive ended in such heartbreak. Officials have not yet released a cause — whether speed, distraction, or road conditions played a role remains under review.
For those who knew Maria — a woman from Columbus, Georgia — the pain goes far beyond the crash. Local community members describe her as kind-hearted, warm, and devoted to family and friends. Her sudden departure has left a void many say will never fully heal. Word is spreading quickly among neighbors and loved ones, many of whom are still struggling to make sense of her absence.
“She had that steady light — always caring, always ready to help,” one neighbor shared. “It’s hard to believe she’s gone.” Another friend, quietly fighting tears, said, “We’ve lost more than a neighbor. We lost someone who made every day a little brighter.”
As the investigation continues, the focus for many remains on honoring Maria’s memory — the warmth she gave, the kindness she showed, and the love she carried with her every day. In this moment of sorrow, many are coming together to support her family, share memories, and hold on to the hope that community can offer some comfort.
In the days ahead, mourners are expected to gather to remember Maria in their own ways — through stories, prayers, and quiet moments of reflection. A life taken too soon, leaving behind a community forever changed.
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