TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The city of Tuscaloosa and the University of Alabama community are mourning the sudden passing of 19-year-old Megan Elisabeth Giles of Jackson’s Gap in Tallapoosa County, who was fatally struck while crossing Jack Warner Parkway on the afternoon of Saturday, November 8, 2025—just hours before the Crimson Tide’s matchup against LSU Tigers. The crash occurred around 4:17 p.m. at the intersection with Queen City Avenue, according to the Tuscaloosa Police Department.
Megan was attempting to cross the busy roadway when she was hit by a west-bound vehicle driven by a 40-year-old woman, who stopped at the scene and cooperated with officers. Paramedics rushed Megan to the nearby hospital at DCH Regional Medical Center, but she succumbed to her injuries shortly thereafter.
Friends, family and classmates remember Megan as someone whose laughter and kindness lit up every room. She was a bright student, a devoted daughter, a loyal friend—someone full of promise and spirit. Word of her passing has touched neighbors, campus peers and the wider community alike, leaving many grappling with the sudden loss of such a young life. While the university has offered its deepest condolences, the void left by Megan’s absence is palpably felt around town.
The incident has shaken the campus and the surrounding area, where many were preparing to head into the stadium for the big game. Instead of normal Saturday afternoon excitement, the atmosphere turned somber as news spread. Messages of support and memories of Megan have poured in from all over— classmates lighting candles, neighborhood friends organizing gatherings to remember the young woman taken too soon.
Authorities say the case remains under active investigation by the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, and no charges have yet been announced. As the family awaits updates, the community is rallying around them, offering meals, comforting words and collective grief.
In the midst of heartbreak, those who knew Megan are determined not only to mourn her but to celebrate the warmth, joy and love she shared. Her kindness and bright presence will continue to echo through the lives of her friends, her family and all who had the privilege of knowing her. She may no longer be walking the campus paths or laughing with friends, but her impact endures.
Megan’s time with us was far too short, yet the legacy she leaves—a legacy of compassion, connection and light—is one that won’t fade. In communities near and far, she’ll be remembered not for the moment she was lost, but for the many moments she gave to others.
