Hawthorne man arrested for DUI after allegedly driving the wrong way; victim sustained extensive injuries

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Jason Thomas Hamm, 29, was arrested yesterday after formal charges were filed against him for driving under the influence with serious bodily injury.

According to the warrant affidavit, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a crash on September 18, 2021, at 2:30 a.m. on SR 20, west of CR 234. The deputy reported that Hamm’s vehicle had been traveling the wrong way in the eastbound lanes and struck another vehicle head-on, causing disabling damage to both vehicles. Hamm reportedly stated spontaneously to both deputies and paramedics that he had been drinking at a midtown bar.

The woman in the other car sustained extensive injuries, and a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) investigator reported that she was intubated when he arrived at the hospital. He wrote that hospital staff told him she had multiple broken bones and faced a long road to recovery.

The FHP investigator first made contact with Hamm at the hospital about 8 hours after the accident, at which point he reportedly showed no signs of impairment. The investigator filed a sworn complaint on March 14, 2022, charging Hamm with DUI, DUI with property damage, and DUI with serious bodily injury. Formal charges were filed on May 23, and an arrest warrant was issued. Hamm was arrested yesterday and is being held on $75,000 bail.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.