The crash occurred along US Highway 34 that resulted in Baumgardner’s death and the hospitalization of Jamal Jenkins Junior and three children under the age of 10 that were in his car.
Knox County State’s Attorney Jeremy Karlin says that Jenkins was erroneously charged with a second count of reckless homicide due to the mistaken belief that one of the children had been killed in the accident.
During the Monday Knox County committee meeting overseeing the sheriff’s department, Sheriff David Clague said the crash was one of the worst he’d seen in his 48 years, adding it was the first time he could remember requesting three life-flight helicopters land for one accident.
March 8, 2021
An Altona man was pronounced dead Saturday after an accident on U.S. 34 in Knox County. Another man from Pennsylvania is facing Reckless Homicide charges.
Authorities have identified the deceased as 39-year-old Joshua Baumgardner who was pronounced dead on scene by Knox County Coroner Mark Thomas.
Baumgardner was driving a Toyota Prius in 2100 Block of U.S. 34, when a Nissan, driven by 31-year-old Jamal Jenkins Jr. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was traveling south and collided with Baumgardner attempting to pass another vehicle.
When deputies arrived on the scene Saturday just before 4 p.m., they say Jenkins’ Nissan was resting on its top and both it and Baumgardner’s vehicle were on the east shoulder.