In the quiet, predawn hours of July 5, 2025, a single moment on a stretch of Perdido Key Drive in Escambia County, Florida, altered the lives of two Alabama families forever. Jackson Cunningham, a 20-year-old from Hoover, and Nicole Moore, a vibrant young woman from Calera, were struck and killed by a sedan as they attempted to cross State Road 292 at its intersection with River Road around 2:47 a.m. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) confirmed that both young pedestrians were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, a 47-year-old man from Pensacola, has not yet been publicly identified, and the investigation remains active as authorities continue to examine the circumstances of the fatal collision.
The tragic event has sent shockwaves through communities in both Alabama and Florida, where disbelief, grief, and a collective need for answers now hang heavily over two towns that once nurtured Jackson and Nicole into adulthood. Their loss is not only a searing personal tragedy for their families but also a sobering reminder of the dangers that can accompany even brief, late-night walks along dimly lit coastal roads.
According to the FHP’s preliminary report, the two were on foot when the collision occurred. There is no official word yet as to whether they were walking from a local venue, returning to accommodations, or simply out enjoying the night air near the water, as so many do during holiday weekends. What is clear is that the driver, operating a sedan in the eastbound lane of State Road 292, failed to stop in time as Jackson and Nicole entered the roadway. Neither had time to react. The impact was fatal.
Authorities quickly responded to the crash site, located just yards from the intersection of River Road and State Road 292—an area often frequented by beachgoers and tourists, especially during summer weekends. Despite prompt emergency response, Jackson and Nicole were beyond saving. Law enforcement closed the scene for hours, gathering witness statements, analyzing debris patterns, and reviewing the physical evidence that might shed light on exactly how and why this tragedy occurred.
The driver of the vehicle remained on scene and cooperated with investigators, but no charges have been filed as of Monday morning. According to FHP protocol, a homicide detective has been assigned to oversee the case, a standard practice in all fatal vehicle collisions to ensure a full and thorough inquiry. Toxicology tests and speed calculations will likely follow as part of the standard investigative process, though officials have not commented on whether impairment or speed were factors in the crash.
Jackson Cunningham and Nicole Moore were more than just names on an accident report. They were beloved children, friends, neighbors, and professionals-in-the-making—young adults who had already begun shaping lives of meaning in their respective communities.
Jackson, a native of Hoover, Alabama, was remembered by friends and former classmates as someone whose magnetic personality lit up every room he entered. A graduate of Bumpus Middle School and Hoover High School, he was known for his deep love for the community and his uncanny ability to make people laugh. His humor wasn’t merely about getting laughs—it was about connection. Friends say he had a rare emotional intelligence and empathy for others, making everyone around him feel seen and valued.
Nicole Moore, originally from Calera and a graduate of Chelsea High School, had already made her mark as a sought-after hairstylist. But her talent behind the chair only scratched the surface of her impact. Known for her warmth, authenticity, and energy, she brought light and comfort to those who knew her. Clients described her not just as a stylist, but as a confidante, a friend, and a fierce encourager. She had dreams of opening her own salon one day, according to those close to her—a vision now tragically cut short.
Together, Jackson and Nicole were enjoying what should have been an ordinary night during a holiday weekend—perhaps celebrating the Fourth of July, perhaps just savoring the Florida coast’s calm and carefree atmosphere. Instead, they became the victims of a senseless tragedy that has left both Hoover and Calera in mourning.
In the aftermath of the accident, social media has become a digital memorial ground, flooded with tributes, photos, and messages of love. Friends posted snapshots from high school dances, beach trips, and birthdays—fragments of lives once full of joy. Messages of disbelief poured in from former teachers, colleagues, and even strangers moved by the sheer heartbreak of the news. One user wrote, “He was the kind of person who would give you the shirt off his back. This world didn’t deserve to lose him.” Another remembered Nicole’s “incredible smile” and “how she made even the worst haircut days feel like therapy sessions.”
These outpourings of grief speak to something deeper: the shared understanding that these young people were in the prime of their lives, doing everything right—investing in relationships, building careers, contributing to their communities. Their loss is being felt not just by their families, but by all who crossed paths with them.
As the investigation moves forward, the Florida Highway Patrol is urging anyone with information—especially potential witnesses who may have seen the pair walking before the crash or who observed the vehicle’s speed or behavior—to contact authorities. No detail, they emphasized, is too small.
Meanwhile, discussions have begun in local civic circles about whether additional pedestrian safety measures are warranted in the Perdido Key area. The crash occurred at a time when visibility is limited, and lighting is notoriously inadequate on certain stretches of State Road 292. Past accidents and near-misses have already drawn attention to pedestrian vulnerability along this corridor. Now, with two lives lost, advocates are likely to renew calls for change—be it speed limit reductions, improved lighting, designated pedestrian crossings, or expanded public awareness campaigns.
Back in Alabama, funeral plans for Jackson Cunningham and Nicole Moore are expected to be announced in the coming days. For now, communities are gathering in prayer, grief, and solidarity. In Hoover, local businesses have begun collecting donations for Jackson’s family to support funeral expenses and establish a memorial scholarship fund in his name. In Calera, the salon where Nicole worked has closed temporarily in mourning, with coworkers organizing a candlelight vigil to celebrate her life and legacy.
The pain of this loss is incalculable, and for the families of Jackson and Nicole, it is a pain that will echo for years to come. Yet within the heartbreak, their stories are being told—not just in obituary columns and police reports, but in the smiles they gave, the laughter they sparked, and the memories they left behind.
Their lives mattered. Their dreams mattered. And in honoring them, both Hoover and Calera are vowing never to forget.
As the sun sets over the Gulf and the lights along Perdido Key flicker back on, the spot where they fell may become a place of remembrance—a solemn marker not only of tragedy, but of two radiant lives lost far too soon.