Updated 12.22.2024 at 4:32 p.m.
The child who died in the wreck has been identified by Adair County Schools as Rose Morgan, a second grader at Adair County Primary Center.
ORIGINAL POST:
A Tennessee man has been charged with vehicular homicide following an automobile accident that caused the death of an Adair County child.
Local emergency services were called to a three-vehicle wreck in front of the Adair County Primary Center on the bypass Saturday afternoon at 4:13 p.m. with the report that one vehicle had overturned, and a child was entrapped in the back seat. As personnel arrived on the scene, they reported that a second child was also entrapped.
Two helicopters were called, with one landing at the school’s football field and a second one at T.J. Health Columbia.
A 15-year-old female was flown to Louisville by helicopter from the football field. Another child was pronounced deceased at the scene and the coroner’s office was called. While law enforcement has not released a name, it has been reported that the child attended the Adair County Primary Center.
Multiple ambulances responded to the scene to transport the injured.
Joel Hammack, 46, Crossville, Tenn., was arrested on the scene and charged with vehicular homicide when under the influence of alcohol; operating a motor vehicle under the influence of substance, aggravated circumstances; assault 1st degree; and assault 2nd degree. He was housed in the Adair County Jail at 6:56 p.m.
Kentucky State Police were called to investigate, and on Sunday they reported that only two vehicles were involved.
KSP reports that Hammack was traveling south on the bypass in a 2016 Ford F150 at a high rate of speed. He came upon a 2018 Kia Sorento traveling the same direction and collided with the rear of the Sorento, which was driven by Townya Ritzie, 62, of Columbia.
The collision forced Ritzie’s vehicle off the roadway, where it overturned and landed in a ditch with Hammack’s vehicle right behind it.
One juvenile passenger died at the scene. Two other passengers, Susan Morgan, 66, of Columbia, and the 15-year old juvenile, were transported to the hospital with serious injuries. Another juvenile was transported with minor injuries. Hammack’s passenger, Walter Nichols, 45, of Bean Station, Tenn. was treated and released.
Nichols was unruly as first responders attempted to aid those involved, according to KSP, and was subsequently arrested and charged with assault 3rd degree, against emergency personnel; assault 4th degree, minor injury; terroristic threatening, 3rd degree; disorderly conduct, 2nd degree; and alcohol intoxication in a public place. He was lodged in the Adair County Jail.
Columbia City Police, Adair County Sheriff’s Office, Adair County EMS, and the Columbia-Adair County Fire Department responded to the scene along with KSP.
Hammack was arrested in Hardin County on March 15 and charged with multiple offenses, including strangulation, 1st degree; assault 3rd degree of a police officer; and resisting arrest, minor injury. According to court documents, all charges were dismissed except resisting arrest and assault, 4th degree. On Dec. 3, he was charged again in the case for a probation violation.
In 2021, Hammack was charged in Citrus County, Tenn. after leading officers on a high-speed chase. According to the Citrus County Chronicle, an officer witnessed Hammack driving at a high speed and swerving in the road. The same vehicle had driven away from a hit-and-run crash earlier in the day.
After the chase ended, officers said they found a glass smoking pipe on the front seat that later tested positive for methamphetamine. Hammack’s license had already been revoked when the incident occurred. He was arrested and charged with fleeing and eluding; DUI; driving with an invalid license for the fourth time, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
