A tragic vehicle collision in Adair County, Kentucky, took the life of a young second grader and left several others injured, while resulting in the arrest of two Tennessee men. According to WSMV, the accident occurred at the intersection of KY 55 Bypass and Pelham Branch Road when a Ford F150, driven by Joel Hammack, 46, of Crossville, Tennessee, rear-ended a slower-moving Kia Sorento.
The collision, as reported by Laker Country, sent the Sorento off the road and caused it to overturn. The driver of the Sorento, Townya Ritzie, 62, of Columbia, Kentucky, was injured along with three others. A juvenile passenger, Rose Morgan, a student at Adair County Primary Center, was pronounced dead on the scene. Kentucky State Police unveiled that Hammack was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide while under the influence of alcohol, along with other offenses including first and second-degree assault.
Furthermore, Hammack's passenger, Walter Nichols, 45, of Bean Station, Tennessee, faced charges after displaying unruly behavior as emergency personnel attempted to provide aid to the crash victims. Specifically, WBKO detailed that Nichols' charges include third-degree assault of emergency personnel and alcohol intoxication in a public place. Both men are currently being held at the Adair County Detention Center.
The community has been left in mourning of the young second grader's death. Adair County Schools announced on their Facebook page, "It is with deep sorrow that our Adair County Schools family has received the news of the passing of Rose Morgan, a second-grade student at Adair County Primary Center, following injuries sustained in an automobile accident on Sunday." The statement clarified that Morgan actually passed away on Saturday, and the district's Crisis Response Team will be offering support following winter break, as noted by WBKO. The Kentucky State Police continue to investigate the crash, with assistance from local law enforcement agencies.
