Reports shed new light on I-65 crashes that led to murder, other charges against truck driver

LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — Crash reports from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency shed new light on a deadly crash and multiple other wrecks that occurred on May 6 on I-65.

On Tuesday, News 19 requested crash reports in Limestone County regarding John. W. McAdams.

He is charged with murder, as well as two counts of leaving the scene of an accident with injury and one count of driving under the influence. ALEA said these charges stem from his role in multiple crashes on I-65.

We received four reports detailing a series of wrecks on I-65, including one that led to the death of Austin Peay Football Player William Hardick.

ALEA’s reports redacted the names of the drivers involved in the wrecks. However, we were able to match the reports to details previously shared by the agency.

One report details the wreck between the 18-wheeler that ALEA says McAdams was driving and the Impala driven by Hardrick. ALEA said the wreck occurred near milepost 356 when McAdam’s 18-wheeler hit the back of Hardrick’s car.

Authorities said that after the impact, Hardrick’s car left the roadway, struck a fence, a guardrail, and then overturned. Limestone County Coroner Mike West said the vehicle came to a rest on Piney Chapel Road.

The reports said the 18-wheeler had been involved in wrecks before and after the wreck with the Impala. McAdams reportedly told investigators that he stopped at the 365-mile marker to rest and drank tequila before taking a nap.

McAdams also appeared in the Limestone County courthouse for a hearing on Tuesday. When he appeared in court on Tuesday, a trooper testified that he drank a water bottle full of tequila.

“After waking up, he got back on the road but did not remember the specific details of when or why,” the report said. “Field Sobriety Tests were administered, revealing several clues of impairment.”

The report said McAdams was given a breathalyzer test at the Limestone County Jail and got a result of .09. BAC.

The first wreck detailed in the reports happened at mile marker 362, before McAdams hit Hardrick’s vehicle. The report said the wreck happened when the McAdams’ 18-wheeler hit a Nissan Sentra twice before the other car was able to exit the interstate.

The wreck after the one that led to Hardick’s death was at mile marker 353 and involved the 18-wheeler and a Lexus. The report said the 18-wheeler collided with the rear bumper of the Lexus and partially overrode it.

The final wreck happened at milepost 346 near Huntsville Brownferry Road. The report said the wreck occurred when McAdams’s 18-wheeler hit a Ford Bronco in the rear bumper while the Bronco was changing lanes.

Tuesday marked McAdams first appearance in court following his arrest. His defense team waived his preliminary hearing, but the court also considered his request for bond. His attorneys argued he should be released on bond, but a judge has not yet ruled on that matter.

The case is headed to a grand jury.