HARTSELLE, Ala. — On September 10, 2025, Traffic Homicide Investigators announced that a warrant has been obtained for Archie Hale, 40, of Hillsboro, charging him with Murder in connection with a deadly traffic crash that occurred on September 6, 2025, at approximately 8:30 p.m. The crash claimed the life of Jayden Thompson, a juvenile victim whose death has shaken the Hartselle community.
According to investigators, Hale was behind the wheel of a vehicle that collided with another car traveling northbound on Highway 31. Surveillance video reviewed by authorities confirms that Hale entered the intersection from Highway 36 westbound at a very high rate of speed, despite the traffic light being red in his direction. Police said Hale’s decision to drive through the intersection demonstrated “extreme indifference to human life,” creating a grave risk of death and ultimately causing the fatal crash that killed Thompson.
Hale sustained serious injuries in the wreck and remains under medical care. Officers from the Hartselle Police Department are maintaining a presence at the medical facility and will take Hale into custody immediately upon his release. He will be held without bond on the murder charge.
In addition to the murder charge, Hale is also facing multiple charges through the Priceville Police Department, including:
- Attempting to Elude
- Possession with Intent
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
- Reckless Endangerment
- Multiple traffic violations
Bond for those charges has been set at a total of $296,000.00.
Authorities emphasized that the case is far from closed. The investigation remains ongoing and extensive, as investigators continue to obtain and review medical records to assess the full scope of injuries sustained by other victims involved in the crash. Officials noted that additional charges are expected once those findings are confirmed.
Chief McDearmond of the Hartselle Police Department shared that he personally met with a representative of Jayden Thompson’s family before the warrant was formally obtained. “While nothing can fill the void left in this family,” McDearmond said, “we are committed to ensuring Hale faces these charges and that justice is pursued on behalf of this young man and his family.”
The tragedy has left the Hartselle community grieving the loss of Jayden Thompson, remembered by those who knew him as a bright and kind-hearted young man whose life was cut tragically short.
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