Grandma of 2 dies after saving grandson from being hit by oncoming car
In a final, instinctive act of maternal devotion, a 52-year-old Ohio woman is being hailed as a hero after giving her life to ensure her young grandson survived a devastating vehicle strike. Laura J. Hammond of Mount Sterling passed away on February 27, moments after physically throwing the child to safety as a distracted driver careened off the roadway.
The catastrophe unfolded at approximately 10 a.m. along Walnut Creek Pike. According to the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office, emergency dispatchers received a frantic 911 call reporting a vehicle that had veered off the asphalt and into a residential area.
When deputies arrived on the scene, they discovered a 2025 Nissan Sentra that had hurtled through two yards before slamming into a tree. In its path sat a parked 2022 Chevrolet Equinox and the catastrophic scene of a family torn apart. Lying near the wreckage was Hammond, suffering from critical injuries sustained when she was pinned between the moving car and the stationary SUV.
A Split-Second Sacrifice
Investigation into the mechanics of the crash revealed that Hammond and her grandson were in a driveway when the Nissan left the road. With only seconds to react, Hammond made a decision that investigators say undoubtedly saved the boy’s life.
“Laura actually picked up the child and tossed him,” Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office Capt. John Strawser told CBS affiliate WBNS. “She took the brunt of the vehicle” after hurling the boy out of the direct line of impact.
First responders administered immediate aid before Hammond was rushed to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center. Despite the efforts of trauma surgeons, she succumbed to her injuries. Her grandson was transported to OhioHealth Berger Hospital; authorities confirmed his injuries were not life-threatening—a miracle credited entirely to his grandmother’s intervention.
Distraction and Suspicion: The Investigation into the Driver
The driver, a 60-year-old male whose identity has not yet been formally released pending charges, was also treated for minor injuries. Preliminary reports from the Sheriff’s Office indicate a grimly familiar cause for the deviation: the driver was reportedly “distracted by his phone” at the moment the car left the roadway.
However, the investigation has taken a more serious turn. Deputies recovered a beer can at the scene of the crash. Consequently, investigators have obtained a legal warrant to test the driver’s blood for the presence of alcohol or narcotics to determine if impairment played a role alongside the reported phone distraction.
Capt. Strawser did not mince words when describing Hammond’s actions: “She is an absolute hero. She risked her life, and this situation took her life, to save her grandson’s.”
“Nana’s” Greatest Joy
Hammond leaves behind a grieving husband, three children, and two grandchildren. In the wake of the tragedy, her family established a GoFundMe campaign to manage the sudden financial strain of funeral costs and medical bills. The tribute on the page paints a portrait of a woman whose final act was a reflection of her entire life.
“On February 27, our lives changed forever. Laura ‘Nana’ tragically passed away in an accident while saving her grandson’s life. In that moment, she showed the same courage and selflessness that defined her life,” the family wrote. “Being ‘Nana’ was her greatest joy… She was the kind of friend, sister, daughter, mother, grandmother and wife that others aspire to be.”
As the Hammond, Callicott, and Justice families begin the long process of grieving, the community of Mount Sterling remains in mourning for a woman who defined the “ultimate sacrifice.” In a world of fleeting moments, Laura Hammond chose to make her last one count for the next generation.