A devastating tragedy in Circleville, Ohio, has left a family and community mourning after a grandmother sacrificed her life to save her young grandson from being struck by a vehicle.
According to the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred around 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 27, when the Pickaway County Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a serious crash on Walnut Creek Pike.
When deputies arrived at the scene, they discovered a 2025 Nissan Sentra that had crashed into a tree on the south side of a nearby property. Not far from the wreckage, they found an injured woman lying on the ground.
Investigators later identified the woman as 52-year-old Laura J. Hammond of Mt. Sterling, Ohio.
Authorities say the crash began when the Nissan Sentra was traveling southbound on Walnut Creek Pike and suddenly left the west side of the roadway. The vehicle continued off the road, driving through two residential yards before reaching the driveway of a property.
According to the sheriff’s office, the out-of-control vehicle then struck a parked 2022 Chevrolet Equinox, causing it to spin. During the crash, Hammond was pinned between the two vehicles, suffering severe injuries. But what investigators learned next revealed the extraordinary act that happened moments before the impact.
Deputies determined that Hammond had moved a young child who was playing in the driveway, pushing him out of the vehicle’s path just seconds before the crash. Authorities say this quick action very likely saved the child’s life.
Sheriff’s Capt. John Strawser later confirmed to CBS affiliate WBNS that the child Hammond protected was her grandson.
“Laura actually picked up the child and tossed him,” Strawser explained. “She took the brunt of the vehicle after throwing the child out of harm’s way.”
Emergency responders immediately provided first aid at the scene, and Hammond was rushed to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center in Columbus. Despite doctors’ efforts, she later died from her injuries, according to the sheriff’s office. 🚑
For those who knew her, Hammond’s final act reflects the love she had for her family.
In a matter of seconds, she made a decision that saved her grandson’s life, even though it meant risking — and ultimately losing — her own.
As the community processes the tragedy, many are remembering Laura J. Hammond not only as a grandmother, but as a hero whose final moment was defined by courage and unconditional love. ❤️🕊️