Police: Driver killed with street sign

FOLEY, Ala. - Update: 11:30 a.m. The victim who was killed when a street sign came crashing through his windshield over the weekend has been identified. He was 22-year-old Jose Juan Chonpascles Galiana of Robertsdale.

9/27/2009 Alabama State Troopers received a call about an accident on County Road 55 in front of Magnolia Springs School around 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Investigators quickly realized the victim wasn't killed in a crash but died from a street sign that had been thrown through his windshield.

The sign came from the Sweet Gum Subdivision just down the road; the same street where they arrested the suspect, 19-year-old John Hadley.

Corporal Steve Smith, public information officer for the Alabama Department of Transportation, said investigators are still trying to come up with a motive. Cpl. Smith said Hadley pulled the sign out of the ground and threw it at the victim's car.

Chad Lambert noticed the sign to his street was missing, but he didn't know his neighbor was in jail charged with murder.

"It was just the metal pole with two green signs, and you know it was gone. I told my wife somebody took our street sign," Lambert said.

Rosemary Rowell lives across the street from the crime.

"I didn't see or hear anything until my son said there were police across the street. There were a lot of police cars across the street and lights, but I never heard a siren. I didn't realize what happened until the next morning," Rowell said.

Authorities said they went to Hadley house initially, because the 911 call was made from the residence. According to Cpl. Smith the investigation ultimately pointed to Hadley as the murder suspect.

Smith said another member of the Hadley family is in trouble.

"John Hadley's father is the one that called 911. He was subsequently charged with filing a false police report," Smith added.

Investigators believe Jon Hadley was in an argument earlier Saturday, and was taking out his frustrations when he committed the crime.

Hadley's father was also arrested. State police say Albert Hadley told officers he simply saw the accident and reported it. However, investigators said the father knew more than what he was telling, and was possible trying to cover up for his son.

The coroner's office says the impact of the sign was so severe, the right side of the victim's face was barely recognizable. Police say it took a long time to release the victim's identity because he was undocumented.