According to jail records, 46-year-old Joel Ray Hammack of Crossville, TN was arrested in Columbia by KSP on Saturday afternoon following an accident on the Columbia Bypass that has claimed the life of an Adair County child. A passenger, one of the child’s friends, was flown out with unknown injuries.
The child, identified as 7-year-old Rose Morgan of Columbia, KY was killed as a result of the crash caused by a man who has had numerous DUI charges and was reportedly under the influence at the time of this crash.
WAVE News has learned that the child’s grandparents were taking the child and friends out for the evening when Joel Ray Hammack crashed into their vehicle. Hammack has been charged with vehicular homicide, operating a vehicle while under the influence (4th or greater offense), assault 1st degree and assault 2nd degree. He remains lodged in the Adair County Regional Jail.
The Columbia Bypass was closed for hours while authorities investigated the incident and cleared the scene.
WAVE News will have more details as they are made available.
