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Terry Wayne Hinton

Age : 60

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 10/10/2022

Location : Hawk Pride Mountain Road

City : Tuscumbia

County : Colbert

State : Alabama

Agency : Tuscumbia Police Department

Officer(s) :James Keith “Jay” Steward

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Pedestrian killed by police vehicle

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 10/10/2022, 60-year-old Terry Wayne Hinton was killed when he was struck by a marked Tuscumbia Police Department vehicle driven by Officer James Keith “Jay” Steward on Hawk Pride Mountain Road in Colbert County, Alabama. Hinton was walking along the road when Steward struck him. Hinton was pronounced dead at the scene. Steward was seriously injured and airlifted to Huntsville Hospital.
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The subsequent criminal investigation determined that Steward was driving more than 90 mph and was under the influence when he struck Hinton. Prosecutors alleged in the original indictment that Steward recklessly caused Hinton's death while under the influence of a controlled substance, speeding and/or operating the police vehicle on the wrong side of the roadway.
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The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the fatal collision. The Colbert County District Attorney's Office later turned the case over to the Alabama Attorney General's Office, which handled the prosecution.
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In March 2023, Steward was indicted for reckless murder. He initially pleaded not guilty. In August 2024, Steward instead pleaded guilty to manslaughter, admitting criminal responsibility for killing Hinton while driving under the influence.
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On 10/08/2024, a Colbert County judge sentenced Steward to 20 years in prison. Steward subsequently sought to have his sentence modified and asked to serve it in a county jail rather than state prison, but the state opposed the request.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
James Keith “Jay” Steward was 34 and a Tuscumbia Police Department officer when he killed Hinton. He was driving a marked department vehicle. By the time of his March 2023 indictment, Steward was described as a former Tuscumbia police officer. He was indicted for reckless murder, ultimately pleaded guilty to manslaughter in August 2024, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison in October 2024.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.waff.com/2023/01/06/colbert-co-da-turns-2022-officer-involved-wreck-investigation-over-ag/
https://www.waff.com/2023/03/10/former-tuscumbia-police-officer-indicted-murder/
https://apnews.com/article/b46cf57c7133e6239cfa46cdccb848bc
https://www.waff.com/2024/08/13/former-tuscumbia-officer-pleads-guilty-manslaughter/
https://www.waff.com/2024/10/08/former-tuscumbia-officer-sentenced-fatal-wreck/