HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WSMV/WAFF) – The man accused of killing a Tennessee college football player in a crash on Interstate 65 in Alabama had allegedly consumed tequila and kratom before the crash.
John McAdams appeared at a preliminary hearing on Tuesday in Huntsville, Alabama. McAdams is facing charges of murder, driving under the influence, and leaving the scene of an accident in connection with the death of Austin Peay State University football player William Hardrick.
WAFF’s Faith Delp reports that the state trooper who conducted the man’s sobriety test said his breathalyzer showed a BAC of 0.15. McAdams allegedly admitted to drinking a water bottle of tequila before the 27 miles of terror he is accused of causing.
He also allegedly admitted to taking half a teaspoon to one tablespoon of Kratom the morning of the crash. Kratom is an opioid-like drug and illegal in Alabama.
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State Trooper Paul Richie said that McAdams said he stopped to take a nap at about 3 p.m. He allegedly consumed the tequila, fell asleep, and doesn’t recall when he got back on the road.
The first crash occurred at 6:35 p.m., according to Trooper Richie. Hardrick died in one of the crashes that followed.
Hardrick’s uncle, James Pennington, was present during the hearing and said he talked to his nephew the day he died.
“I called him that day while I was working, he was like ‘Unc – I’m packing to get ready to go home, I gotta update my license, get the star on my license so I can travel with the team,’ and I was like okay well let me know when you make it home. That was the last I talked to him,” Pennington said.
McAdams’ attorneys requested to be granted bond, and the judge is set to make a decision on that request soon. The case is set to go to a grand jury to see if he will go to trial.
WAFF contributed to this article.
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