Jacksonville officer injured in DUI wreck cheered as he leaves hospital

Motorcycle officer transferred to rehab facility; bailiff wife killed in crash

Officer Jack Adams cheered by Memorial Hospital staff, fellow officers as he's transferred to rehab after DUI crash that killed his wife, a Jacksonville Sheriff's Office bailiff.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville motorcycle officer who was critically injured in a DUI crash Sunday that killed his wife, a Jacksonville Sheriff's Office bailiff, has made a remarkable recovery and was transferred to a rehabilitation facility Friday.

Hospital staff and fellow officers lined the hallway at Memorial Hospital to cheer and applaud Officer William "Jack" Adams as he was wheeled out Friday.

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Adams and his wife, Cathy Adams, were headed back from Orlando with their teenage children after a high school state championship football game when their SUV was hit by a suspected drunk driver on I-95 in St. Johns County. The couple's children suffered minor injuries, but Cathy Adams' injuries were so severe that she died Sunday after coming off life support.

Jack Adams, who served as a U.S. Marine, has been hospitalized since the crash with his condition steadily improving from critical to serious but stable. He was transferred to rehab on Friday.

Kim Johnston, 46, has been charged with two counts of DUI with serious bodily injury. She was released from jail Monday after posting $100,000 bond.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said it has been overwhelmed by support since the crash.

The local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police is collecting donations to help the Adams family, and a GoFundMe account has been set up to make the process easier.

Checks can also be made payable to the FOP Foundation, notating “Benefit of Adams Family” in the memo section. They can be mailed to Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 5-30, 5530 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida, 32207. You can also call 904-398-7010 ext. 10 or 11 and donate via debit/credit card.

Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles announced Monday he will match up to $15,000 in money donated to help the Adams family through his foundation's website by Friday. Donors are also encouraged to leave a message for the family in the box "Donation Message."

VyStar has also opened a donation account for the Adams' children, the credit union announced Friday. According to a release, the teens have been staying with friends and do not have immediate family in town.

The Adams Family Donation Account is accepting donations at any Vystar branch through account number 7507821339. The account will remain open through March 14, 2019.

No funeral or procession arrangements for Cathy Adams have been announced. An FOP representative said the department is waiting for Jack Adams to recover before moving forward with those.


About the Author:

A Jacksonville native and proud University of North Florida alum, Francine Frazier has been with News4Jax since 2014 after spending nine years at The Florida Times-Union.