Teresa Cranford Hammett Car Accident: Teresa Cranford Hammett, 66, Dies in Predawn Etowah County Hit-and-Run
A community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of Teresa Cranford Hammett, 66, of Gadsden, who died Wednesday morning after being struck by a vehicle in a predawn hit-and-run crash in Etowah County.
The fatal incident was reported at approximately 5:13 a.m. on College Parkway near East Meighan Boulevard, where Hammett was struck during the early-morning hours. The collision left the 66-year-old woman critically injured, and she was ultimately pronounced dead following the incident.
Etowah County Deputy Coroner Dantez Robinson identified Hammett as the woman who lost her life in the crash. Her death has left family members, friends, and others in the Gadsden community grieving as they come to terms with the sudden loss.
According to authorities, the driver involved in the collision did not remain at the scene. Instead, the vehicle left the area following the crash, prompting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident.
At this time, authorities have not released details about the make, model, or description of the vehicle, nor have officials publicly identified the driver believed to have been involved. The circumstances that led to the collision also remain under investigation.
The predawn timing of the crash added to the difficulty of the initial response, as the incident occurred during the early morning hours while visibility and traffic conditions may have been different from those later in the day. Investigators are expected to examine available evidence and work to determine exactly what happened before and after Hammett was struck.
Authorities may also be seeking information from anyone who was traveling along College Parkway near East Meighan Boulevard around 5:13 a.m. and may have witnessed the collision or observed a vehicle leaving the area shortly afterward.
The investigation remains ongoing, and officials have not announced whether an arrest has been made or whether a suspect has been identified.
For those who knew Teresa Cranford Hammett, her passing represents a painful and unexpected loss. At 66, she leaves behind memories that will remain with the people whose lives she touched. Family, friends, and members of the community are now left to mourn her death while authorities continue working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the crash.
As the investigation continues, anyone with information that could assist authorities is encouraged to come forward and provide details that may help investigators identify the vehicle and driver involved in the fatal hit-and-run.
