NORRISTOWN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A 57-year-old West Virginia man, convicted of killing a pregnant woman and her unborn child while recklessly driving a dump truck in Montgomery County in August 2022, will spend at least 25 years in prison.
Kellie Adams, 31, was killed when Everett Clayton lost control of his dump truck on South Park Avenue in Lower Providence Township and crossed into her lane, hitting her head-on. She was eight months pregnant. Her unborn daughter, Emersyn, was also killed in the crash.
Clayton was convicted of two counts of third-degree murder. He was sentenced on Friday to 25 to 50 years behind bars.
He sat with his head in his hands and listened as Adams’ friends and family testified, remembering her as a caring, energetic, loving wife — and the mother of two boys who were excited to have a little sister.
Adams’ father, Dean Miller, said Kellie had a positive influence on so many people, especially in her job as a special education teacher.
“She chose a path to help kids that were less fortunate in their education,” he said. “We got a phone call at home one time [on] Christmas morning from a student that had no one else to call but Kellie.”
Kellie’s husband, Jason Adams, said while he was overseas on active duty with the military, she held down the fort, while simultaneously working full-time.
“She was incredible,” he said. “Her strength, her perseverance, her courage. She was a rock in our world. She truly was.”
Montgomery County Judge William Carpenter told Clayton they wouldn’t be in court at all if he had been a law-abiding citizen who cared about other people. Clayton told the court he wished he had never gotten in that truck, and how he so desired to turn back time.
“I’ve been doing this for over 30 years,” said prosecutor Ed McCann. “That was one of the most emotional days I’ve ever had in a courtroom. The impact that this crime has had on Kellie’s family and Emersyn’s family and the community is almost incalculable.”
Clayton’s lawyer, Jim Lyons, said an appeal is likely.
“It’s one of the saddest cases I’ve seen in a long time,” he said. “I still do not believe that the case warrants a third-degree murder conviction. There’s no question in my mind that it’s homicide by vehicle and also involuntary manslaughter. No question.”
During Friday’s hearing, Jason Adams closed with a message from his 6-year-old son directed at Clayton: “I am mad and I don’t like you. I hope you stay in jail for a very long time. I hate what you did. I miss my mommy, and I miss Emmy.”
Correction: a previous version of this story misspelled Emersyn's name. The current version reflects that change.