James Halsell has been charged with murder after a deadly car accident. (Getty)
A former NASA astronaut with thousands of hours of flight experience has been charged with murder following a deadly car crash in Huntsville, Alabama, according to ABC News.
The crash took place early in the morning on Monday and involved a collision between a Chrysler 300 driven by James Halsell and a Ford Fiesta, in which two young girls were passengers.
Here’s everything you need to know about the case of James Halsell.
1. He Has Been on Five Space Shuttle Missions
James Halsell (left) and Commander Ken Cockrell (right) in the cockpit of the orbiter Atlantis. (Getty)
Born in West Monroe, Louisiana, Halsell attended the United States Air Force Academy and was trained as a Space Shuttle pilot in 1990, according to his NASA biography. He flew five space shuttle missions, and from 2000 to 2002, he served in the Space Shuttle Program at the Kennedy Space Center.
In total, he spent over 1,250 hours in space. Halsell retired in 2006, and he went on to become the ATK site manager at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
He is currently 59 years old and is married with a son and daughter.
2. He Helped Relaunch the Space Shuttle Program
Jim Halsell (L) attends a NASA return to flight status briefing in September 2003. (Getty)
Halsell is also one of the men who helped lead NASA back to space following the Columbia disaster in 2003, according to ABC News.
The NASA Return to Flight Planning team, which Halsell led, helped take action to prevent mistakes in the future and ensure NASA resumed missions in 2005.
3. Two Children Died in the Crash
Space Shuttle Columbia crew members leave the crew quarter’s to prepare for the launch of Columbia. (Getty)
On Monday, Halsell allegedly caused a crash that killed two children at 2:50 a.m. on U.S. 82.
Niomi Deona James, 11, and Jayla Latrick Parler, 13, were passengers in a vehicle struck by Halsell. Both of the sisters, who were not wearing seatbelts at the time, were ejected from the car and killed. James was pronounced dead at the scene while Parler was taken to the hospital and later pronounced dead.
Two adults in the car, 37-year-old Pernell Deon James, the girls’ father, and 25-year-old Shontel Latriva Cutts, sustained injuries and have been hospitalized. AL.com reports that the two girls were being picked up from a summer vacation when the crash occurred.
4. He May Have Been Intoxicated
James Halsell and his crew waves at a crowd gathered in front of the Space Shuttle Atlantis (Getty)
The exact circumstances surrounding the crash have not been revealed, but it is believed Halsell may have been intoxicated at the time of the crash, police say.
Halsell was booked at the Tuscaloosa County jail the morning of the crash and released later that day on a $150,000 bond.
5. He Is Charged With Murder
Upon the discovery that alcohol may have been a factor in the crash, Halsell was charged with murder.
According to ABC News, it is not yet clear whether Halsell has a lawyer, and requests to speak to his family have not been returned.