The Tennessee man accused of killing a child in a car crash was in court in Adair County on Monday morning.
“It’s senseless and heartbreaking all at the same time,” said Dewey Aaron, an Adair County resident.
“It affects you more in the holiday season,” said KSP Post 15 Trooper Jonathan Houk. “Just anytime of the year it affects you, but around the holiday seasons it’s just compounded.”
These are a few of the sentiments around Adair County after police said that Joel Hammack rear-ended a car, causing the crash that killed a second-grader.
The crash happened on the 55 bypass in Columbia in the late afternoon on Dec. 21. For Hammack, this is at least his fourth DUI charge.
“If you have a family member that has an issue with alcohol, try to talk to them and see if they can get some help or something like that,” said Houk. “If you are actually the person encourage you to just reach out for help if you have a problem with it.”
Hammack is charged with vehicular homicide under the influence of alcohol, DUI fourth offense or greater, and assault.