Dec. 23—A Crossville man has been arrested by Kentucky State Police and charged with the death of a second-grader and injury to four others in a rear-end collision with a vehicle on a rural Kentucky road Sunday.
A passenger in the Crossville man’s vehicle is also charged.
The crash occurred at the intersection of KY Hwy. 55 Bypass near the Pelham Branch Road intersection, KSP reported.
A 2016 Ford F-150 driven by Joel Hammack, 46, Crossville, at a high rate of speed, slammed into the rear of a slower-moving 2018 Kia Sorento driven by Towny Ritzie, 62, of Colmubia, KY,
The impact knocked Ritzie’s SUV off the roadway, causing it to overturn.
The child is identified as Rose Morgan, a second-grade student at Adair County Primary Center, according to television news reports.
The child was reportedly dead at the scene.
Ritzie, passengers Susan Morgan, 66, of Columbia and another child were taken to an area hospital. Morgan and the other child reportedly suffered serious injuries.
Hammack and his passenger, Walter Nichols, 45, of Bean Station, TN, were treated at the hospital and released.
KSP reports Hammack is charged with vehicular homicide under the influence of alcohol, fourth-offense DUI, first-degree assault and three counts of second-degree assault.
Nichols was charged with third-degree assault on a first responder, fourth-degree assault, third-degree terroristic threatening, disorderly conduct and public intoxication.
Witnesses told KSP Nichols alleged confronted first responders and was “unruly” toward those trying to help the injured.
Both men were jailed at the Adair Detention Center.
Michael Moser may be reached at mmoser@crossville-chronicle.com
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