Driver of 9-tonne dump truck kills pregnant woman in crash after drinking beer
The driver of a nine-tonne dump truck who killed a firefighter's pregnant wife after drinking beer before getting behind the wheel has been found guilty of murder.
57-year-old Everett James Clayton, from Charleston, West Virginia, was driving an unregistered 2003 Ford Super Duty dump truck in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, on August 25, 2022, when the crash happened. He sped around a curve, crossing the centre line on Park Avenue in Lower Providence Township, where he then smashed into the front driver's side of Kellie Adams' Chevrolet Tahoe.
Kellie, 31, who was eight months pregnant, died at the scene. She left behind her husband Jason, a firefighter, and two boys, Mason Daniel Adams, five, and Jaxson Richard Adams, two. Her unborn child, Emersyn Grace, was later delivered stillborn, according to her obituary.
READ MORE: Dad with heavily pregnant wife shot dead in Maine after staying for 'one more game'
An investigation after the fatal crash found the truck had been bought just a month before by now-24-year-old Patrick Doran of Maryland, who bought it under the fake name 'Jacob Fury' using a fake New York driver's licence. Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said the truck was in an "unsafe and unregistered condition".
Greggs, Costa & Pret coffees have 'huge differences in caffeine', says report
The crash happened with such force the body of the dump truck separated from the chassis"Doran never titled the vehicle in any state, did not have it inspected, registered or insured as required under state law, and operated the vehicle without complying with proper federal laws for this size vehicle," said the DA's office. Though Clayton was not legally drunk at the time of the crash, he did admit to having consumed Sly Fox IPAs.
"The driver of the dump truck was not injured and admitted to police following the crash that he had been drinking Sly Fox IPA beers," said the DA's office. "Blood testing found that Clayton had a blood alcohol content of .076, just under the legal limit to drive."
Everett James Clayton, 57, is led from court in handcuffs following the guilty verdict (KYW Newsradio/X)Authorities reconstructed the crash, where they concluded that Clayton had been driving faster than the 25mph speed limit around a curve, causing him to lose control of the wheel, cross the centre line, and hit Kellie Adams' car. They said that he hit Kellie's car with such force that the collision "immediately stopped all forward momentum of the Tahoe and caused the dump body portion of the dump truck to fully separate from the chassis, sending the chassis rolling."
DA Steele said the dump truck "should never have been on the road where it became a lethal weapon". Doran pleaded guilty for his role in the crash in June to a felony charge of homicide by vehicle.
Mr Steele vowed to pursue justice for the "beloved young mother", Emersyn Grace, and their heartbroken family and friends. Speaking when charges were announced, he said: "We are saddened by their loss and have charged as the law has allowed."
Everett James Clayton was found guilty of two counts of third-degree murder (Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office)On Wednesday, Clayton was convicted of two counts of third-degree murder. Following the guilty verdicts, Clayton was led from the court in handcuffs and did not respond to a reporter at the scene who asked if he had anything to say to the victims' family.
Jason Adams reacted to the guilty verdicts, pointing out that justice had arrived on what would have been Emersyn's first birthday. He said: "They're both here. There's a significance behind that.
"Today would have been Emersyn's first birthday. I think that's important [...] because while she never got a chance to breathe this air, she will lie on and there will be positive things to come... Nothing is going to bring them back, however, the appropriate level of justice for Kellie and Emersyn we feel was served today."
Despite being below the legal blood alcohol limit, Clayton admitted to having drank beer before getting behind the wheel (KYW Newsradio/X)Kellie was a religious woman, a military wife, a loving mother to her two young sons, and a "dedicated and beloved" middle school and high school teacher at Cottage Seven Academy. She was also a member of the Towamencin Fire Company Auxiliary, and a registered member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a service organisation for women directly descended from those involved in the revolution.
"She was incredibly passionate about teaching, loved by her students and coworkers, and she committed herself to enriching their lives," said her obituary. "A devoted military spouse, her unfailing dedication left an indelible mark on her family, especially her sons.
'I tricked my sister into giving her baby a stupid name - she had it coming'
"Kellie enjoyed camping and vacationing with her family in Hilton Head Island, SC. She'll be remembered for her forgiving spirit, positive outlook, her love of the beach, her beautiful nails, Starbucks, Target and Taco Tuesday."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
