A 45-year-old Alabama driver died following a collision in Atmore in which he hit and killed a woman heading to a bar.
The incident occurred just before midnight on Saturday, August 5. Driver Kenneth E. Harrison struck Hannah Martin, 24, with his vehicle as she crossed Highway 31 toward The Tavern.
The impact propelled Martin into the bar’s parking lot, with Harrison’s vehicle stopping behind her.
However, the scene took an unexpected turn when eyewitnesses reported that a group of bar patrons assaulted Harrison. The severity of the assault led to him being airlifted to a trauma center, where he died four days later.
Harrison’s girlfriend, Kati Riley, shared her account of the incident, saying he was trying to help the injured woman when he was attacked. Riley expressed regret for not being able to protect Harrison from the assault. She emphasized that the collision was accidental and that their concern for the woman was genuine.
“Instead of driving off or just pulling over and locking the doors we cared about her and he got the ultimate punishment for it,” she told reporters.
Law enforcement officials are currently examining evidence related to the assault, and the decision to press charges against the assailants rests with the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office. The identities of the assailants have not been disclosed as of now.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is investigating the crash that resulted in Martin’s death, including determining whether alcohol was a factor for either party.
Notably, Harrison had a previous conviction for manslaughter in 2011 and served a five-year prison sentence before being released in 2016.
