ECHOLS Co. – A Live Oak, Florida man has been charged with felony 1st degree vehicular homicide in connection with the 2015 death of a Echols County man.
Clifford Daniel Hadley has been charged with Felony Homicide by Vehicle 1st Degree, Felony Serious Injury by Vehicle, DUI, Driver to Exercise Due Care, Failure to Maintain Lane, Driving on the Wrong Side of the Roadway, No Seatbelt, Open Container and No Registration.
The GSP found Hadley was responsible for a crash that injured five and killed Reymundo Ramos Chilel. Hadley’s toxicology results indicated an alcohol concentration of .221 grams of alcohol at the time of the crash, according to GSP reports.
On November 14 at approximately 9:23 p.m., the Georgia State Patrol responded to a head on collision on J. Frank Culpepper Road south of Herring Road in Echols County, said GSP Cpl. Chris Kelch.
“A black 1998 Chevrolet Malibu was traveling north on J. Frank Culpepper Road. The occupants were leaving the Casa Del Alfarero Church of God. The vehicle was driven by 25-year-old Filadelfo Martin Perez of Echols County,” Kelch said. “A blue 1997 Ford Ranger, driven by 35-year-old Clifford Daniel Hadley of Live Oak, Florida, was traveling south on J. Frank Culpepper Road. The Ford crossed the center line into the northbound lane and struck the Chevrolet in the front end.”
Five passengers were in the Chevrolet with Perez, including two children.
Perez was unrestrained and was ejected through the windshield. Five Air Med helicopters responded to the scene from Valdosta, Camilla, Lake City, Perry and Jacksonville. Perez was eventually transported to South Georgia Medical Center by ambulance where he was listed in stable condition.
The front seat passenger, Mario Rene Martin Perez, 23, of Echols County, was flown by Air Med to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida and was listed in stable condition. Perez was wearing a seatbelt when the crash occurred.
The driver’s side rear passenger, Alberto Hernandez, 40, of Echols County, was transported by ambulance to SGMC and then later flown by Air Med to Shands hospital and was initially listed in critical condition. Hernandez was not wearing a seatbelt.
The rear passenger side occupant, Reymundo Ramos Chilel, 35, of Echols County, was flown by Air Med to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and was initially listed in critical condition. Chilel was not wearing a seatbelt. Chilel died later on November 20.
Two children, ages four and six, were unrestrained in the rear seat and wear flown from the scene by Air Med to Shands Hospital. The four-year-old was released with lacerations. The six-year-old was in stable condition and treated for leg injuries.
Hadley, the driver of the Ford Ranger, was transported by ambulance to SGMC and was in stable condition.
The investigation of the incident was turned over to the GSP Specialized Reconstruction Team which has now completed their investigation and, this week, issued arrest warrants for Hadley.
GSP expects Hadley to be taken into custody this week.
