The father of 22-year-old William Hardrick, a senior defensive back on the Austin Peay football team, has filed a wrongful death suit following the May 6 crash that killed him.
The suit names Phil Campbell’s John McAdams and his freight company, South Paw Transport LLC.
It alleges that McAdams was driving under the influence of alcohol and was an impaired driver when he hit Hardrick in a one of his business’ tractor trailers going southbound on I-65 in Limestone County.
McAdams is being held in the Limestone County Jail on charges of murder, leaving the scene of an accident and driving under the influence, according to jail records.
Before hitting Hardrick, the suit says that McAdams hit multiple other cars that night and continued doing so until his tractor-trailer eventually came to a stop and caught fire.
Hardrick died as a result of the crash, which the suit says was directly caused by the “negligence, carelessness, and/or wantonness” of McAdams.
The family’s attorney is seeking punitive damages from McAdams and the company and has asked for proof of McAdams’ qualifications to drive and other documents to find out if the company has had similar issues in the past.
Raised in Adamsville, Hardrick played for Mississippi State and Miami (Ohio) University before transferring to Tennessee’s Austin Peay in 2024.
Hardrick “was an exceptional young man, and our team is heartbroken by his loss,” Austin Peay coach Jeff Faris told AP News.
“He made everyone around him better and has made a real impact both on and off the field,” Faris said.
“We lift up the Hardrick family in prayer as we grieve this tragic loss with them.”
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