A devastating tragedy struck Cherokee County, Alabama, on Thursday afternoon when two sisters from Centre were killed in a two-vehicle crash. The Cherokee County Coroner’s Office identified the victims as Lillian McCain, 18, and her younger sister, Libby McCain, 12. Heartbreakingly, Friday, August 22, would have marked Lillian’s 19th birthday.

According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), the collision occurred around 3:15 p.m. on Cherokee County 29 near Cherokee County 28, approximately nine miles northeast of Piedmont. The sisters’ vehicle was struck by a tractor-trailer, and both girls were tragically pronounced dead at the scene.

The impact of their loss is being deeply felt throughout the Spring Garden community. Superintendent Michael Welsh confirmed that Libby was a sixth-grade student at Spring Garden School, while Lillian had only recently graduated from Spring Garden High School in May 2025. Lillian had just started her first semester at Jacksonville State University, where she was beginning to pursue her dreams.

The deaths of the McCain sisters have shaken classmates, teachers, and neighbors who knew them as bright, kind, and ambitious young women. Vigils and tributes are expected in the coming days as the community rallies to support the grieving family.

Troopers with ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the crash. Authorities have not yet released further details on what led to the collision.

As Spring Garden mourns this heartbreaking loss, the lives of Lillian and Libby McCain will be remembered for their promise, kindness, and the love they shared with all who knew them.