Alabama Trucker Accused of ‘27 Miles of Terror’ After Killing College Athlete in Series of Drunken Highway Crashes
LIMESTONE COUNTY, ALABAMA — A 31-year-old Alabama truck driver is facing murder and DUI charges after allegedly causing a 27-mile string of crashes that killed a former college football player — all while under the influence of tequila and kratom, prosecutors say.
John McAdams was indicted this week on multiple charges, including murder, DUI, trafficking synthetic drugs, and six counts of leaving the scene of an accident, after what officials have dubbed a “27 miles of terror” rampage along Interstate 65 on May 6, 2025.
The violent highway spree left one man dead — 22-year-old William Hardrick, a promising athlete from Adamsville who had played football for Austin Peay State University and Miami University (Ohio).
Driver Admitted to Drinking Tequila and Taking Kratom
According to investigators, McAdams pulled his Peterbilt 18-wheeler onto the shoulder of I-65 that afternoon, where he drank from a water bottle filled with tequila and consumed kratom, an illegal stimulant in Alabama that’s often sold as an herbal “energy booster.”
“After waking up, he got back on the road but did not remember the specific details of when or why,” investigators wrote in one crash report.
Minutes later, McAdams allegedly began speeding northbound at 85 mph, colliding with multiple vehicles during rush hour. Witnesses captured video showing the massive truck swerving across lanes and narrowly missing other drivers before smashing into a series of cars.
‘Aggressively Struck’ Victim’s Vehicle, Killing Him Instantly
Hardrick was reportedly on his way home when McAdams’ semi “aggressively struck” his car roughly six miles after the first collision. The impact forced his vehicle off the road, sending it into a guardrail and a wildlife fence before overturning several times.
Hardrick was partially ejected and pronounced dead at the scene, officials confirmed.
A few minutes later, McAdams allegedly rear-ended an SUV, forcing it off the highway, then struck several other vehicles before his burning truck came to a stop 27 miles later.
State attorneys described the stretch of highway as “27 miles of terror” — a phrase that has come to define the case.
Blood-Alcohol Level Twice the Legal Limit for Truckers
Police said McAdams agreed to field sobriety testing at the scene, which revealed “multiple clues of impairment.” His blood-alcohol content measured .09, more than twice the legal limit of .04 for commercial drivers.
Crash reports note that McAdams confessed to drinking an unknown amount of tequila and taking “half a teaspoon to one tablespoon” of kratom before driving. The combination, investigators say, caused “catastrophic impairment and reckless disregard for life.”
“This wasn’t an accident — it was an act of reckless destruction that cost an innocent man his life,” a prosecutor told local media.
Held Without Bond as Case Moves Forward
McAdams is currently being held without bond at the Limestone County Jail. He faces life imprisonment if convicted of murder and additional time for DUI and hit-and-run charges.
Meanwhile, family and friends of Hardrick have remembered him as a motivated, kind-hearted athlete with a bright future ahead. A memorial fund has been established in his honor.
Drunk and drug-impaired driving remains a leading cause of fatal crashes across the U.S., and officials are urging commercial drivers to take stricter responsibility when operating large vehicles.
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