In a tragic series of events along Alabama’s Interstate 65, a truck driver has been indicted on charges of murder and driving under the influence. The incidents, which occurred during rush hour earlier this year, have been referred to by prosecutors as “27 miles of terror.” Among the victims was a college football player who lost his life.

John McAdams, aged 31, reportedly confessed to consuming an unspecified quantity of tequila from a water bottle and ingesting kratom—an herbal supplement known for its purported energy-boosting and mood-enhancing effects—before the incidents. According to the Mayo Clinic, kratom is also marketed as a pain reliever. McAdams was driving a Peterbilt 18-wheeler on May 6 when the crashes occurred.

This week, a grand jury charged McAdams with murder for the death of 22-year-old William Hardrick from Adamsville. He faces additional charges, including six counts of leaving the scene of an accident, one count of driving under the influence, and one count of trafficking synthetic drugs, as reported by local CBS station WHNT.

According to investigative reports, McAdams allegedly stopped his 2000 Peterbilt tractor-trailer at the 365-mile marker on I-65 to rest, during which he consumed tequila and then fell asleep. He later admitted to taking between half a teaspoon and one tablespoon of kratom, which is illegal in Alabama.

After waking, McAdams re-entered the highway but claimed he could not recall specific details of his actions, as documented in one of the crash reports cited by Fox affiliate WBRC.

Prosecutors allege McAdams then hit the interstate again, colliding with a sedan at a speed of 85 mph. Despite the impact, he continued driving erratically, with cellphone footage capturing him weaving through traffic.

Hardrick, who played football for Austin Peay State University and Miami University in Ohio, was on his way home when McAdams “aggressively struck” his vehicle next, roughly 6 miles after the first crash, according to police.

Hardrick was apparently forced off the road and into a ditch before hitting a wildlife fence and guardrail, which caused his car to overturn and roll several times. He was partially ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.

A few minutes later, McAdams allegedly crashed into the back of an SUV and “overrode” its bumper. This caused the driver to immediately pull over to the side of the road, according to law enforcement officials. McAdams then allegedly rear-ended another driver and forced them off the road as well, WBRC reports.

Investigators say McAdams went on to cause several more crashes before “he could no longer operate the vehicle and came to a controlled stop.” Cellphone footage reportedly shows his red Peterbilt engulfed in flames afterward.

McAdams allegedly agreed to take field sobriety tests at the scene, which “revealed several clues of impairment,” according to the crash reports. His BAC was said to be .09, which is above the legal limit of .04 for commercial drivers.

State attorneys have described the interstate onslaught as “27 miles of terror,” according to local ABC and NBC affiliates WAAY and WAFF. McAdams is being held without bond after being indicted Wednesday in Limestone County.