Jury Convicts Two in 2022 Crash That Killed Unborn Child

On July 23, 2025, a Lafayette County jury returned guilty verdicts in a case stemming from a March 6, 2022 crash on West Jackson Avenue near McDonald’s that left a pregnant woman seriously injured and her unborn child dead. The Oxford Police Department determined that Meko Lamar and Tyler Hammond were fleeing in concert when their vehicle struck the victim’s car, recklessly endangering the public.

After a two day trial, jurors found both Lamar and Hammond guilty of felony fleeing in concert with injury and felony fleeing in concert with death. At sentencing, each defendant received a 20 year sentence to serve on Count 1, fleeing in concert with injury, with five years of post release supervision. Each also received a 40 year sentence to serve on Count 2, fleeing in concert with death, with five years of post release supervision. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently, meaning both Lamar and Hammond will serve 20 years each in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

The Oxford Police Department led the initial investigation at the scene on West Jackson Avenue, documenting damage and collecting evidence that prosecutors presented during trial. District Attorney Ben Creekmore and Assistant District Attorney Honey Ussery of the Third Circuit District Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.

Oxford Police Chief Jeff McCutchen offered a statement on the outcome, saying, "This was a heartbreaking case, and our thoughts remain with the victim and her family." He noted the importance of careful on scene work, and the department credited early documentation and observation for helping secure justice.

For Lafayette County residents, the case highlights the risks of high speed chases and reckless driving in populated corridors, and it emphasizes the role of local law enforcement and prosecutors in pursuing accountability for serious traffic crimes. The concurrent sentences and the inclusion of post release supervision mean the court sought both immediate custody and long term oversight after release, a detail that may shape community expectations about punishment and rehabilitation in similar future cases.