A Tennessee man accused of causing the death of a 7-year-old Adair County girl now faces a murder charge following an indictment handed down by an Adair County grand jury.
Joel Hammack, 46, of Crossville, Tenn., was originally charged by Kentucky State Police with vehicular homicide while under the influence of alcohol; operating a motor vehicle under the influence of substance, aggravated circumstances; assault 1st degree; and assault 2nd degree.
On Friday, a grand jury heard evidence against Hammack and charged him with murder, a Class A felony; operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol/substance, 3rd offense, aggravating circumstance; two counts of assault, 1st degree; two counts of assault 4th degree, minor injury; possession of marijuana; and persistent felony offender, 1st degree.
According to the indictment, Hammack had an alcohol concentration of .08 or more following the accident that took the life of Rose Morgan, which occurred on Dec. 21, 2024 on the Veterans Bypass in Columbia near the entrance of Adair County Elementary School.
Th indictment charges that Hammack is facing his third DUI conviction within a 10 year period. He refused to submit to a breathalyzer test on the scene and a search warrant was issued before a blood test could be taken, according to Kentucky State Police Trooper Weston Sullivan, who testified earlier this year during a preliminary hearing. Sullivan also said that numerous beer cans were inside Hammack’s vehicle and outside of the vehicle following the wreck.
According to a release by KSP, 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.
There were five people in the Ritzie vehicle, which overturned and landed in a ditch following the impact.
A 15-year-old juvenile was flown to a trauma center in Louisville and suffered from a brain bleed and other injuries. Another passenger, Susan Morgan, 66, of Columbia, was also flown to a Louisville trauma center with a spinal fracture and required multiple surgeries.
Another juvenile was transported with minor injuries.
Rose Morgan was a passenger in the back seat of the vehicle. The Adair County Coroner’s Office was called to the scene of the accident, and the child was pronounced dead at the scene. She was a student at the Adair County Primary Center.
After Hammack first appeared in court on Dec. 23 for arraignment, he was escorted by security out of the courtroom in shackles and handcuffs. He looked around the room and said, “I am sorry for all this. I am. I am truly sorry.”
He is being held in the Adair County Regional Jail without bond.
Hammack’s passenger, Walter Nichols, 45, of Bean Station, Tenn., was also arrested following the accident. He was also indicted Friday, facing charges of alcohol intoxication in a public place; assault, 3rd degree of a police officer; assault, 3rd degree of EMS, fire, or rescue squad; terroristic threatening, 3rd degree; disorderly conduct, 2nd degree; obstructing governmental operations; and obstruction an emergency responder, 1st offense.
According to the arrest citation, Nichols reportedly brandished a knife at an individual and threatened to cut him, and he also kicked the fire chief while on the scene of the wreck. At the hospital, Nichols yelled at hospital staff and spit on the floor.
Trooper Jordan Tucker testified on behalf of the prosecution during a hearing last month, and said Nichols is accused of assaulting a constable and making threatening statements. According to reports received by the Voice, Nichols threatened to stab Brandon Willis. Tucker said Nichols assaulted Fire Chief Dennis Loy after refusing to get out of the way to allow emergency services to render aid to the people in Ritzie’s vehicle.
Nichols is being held on $25,000 cash bond. Both Hammack and Nichols are scheduled for court again on March 25 at 9 a.m. Both asked for a reduction in bond during arraignment in court on Tuesday but the request was denied by Circuit Judge Judy Murphy.
By Sharon Burton
snburton@adairvoice.com
