CARROLL COUNTY, Va. — A multi-vehicle wreck on Interstate 77 early Sunday morning claimed the life of 26-year-old Dylan M. Hammond of Columbus, Ohio, leaving family and friends across two states heartbroken and searching for ways to honor a young man remembered for his kindness, work ethic, and infectious calm.
Virginia State Police say the deadly chain of collisions began around 5:07 a.m. near mile marker 8 in the northbound lanes. A pickup truck rear-ended a tractor-trailer, spun into the median, and triggered a series of impacts. Moments later, a 2020 Tesla driven by Hammond moved from the left lane to the right, striking a second tractor-trailer before ricocheting back across the highway and colliding with the first big rig. Despite wearing his seat belt, Hammond was pronounced dead at the scene.
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Investigators are examining whether slick roads from cold, wintry weather played a role in the crash, which occurred during a quiet pre-dawn stretch of the rural interstate.
Back in Columbus, the news spread quickly through group chats, workplaces, and neighborhood streets where Dylan was known simply as “a genuinely good guy.” Friends describe a 26-year-old who seemed to show up exactly when someone needed him—whether that meant helping a buddy move on short notice, listening without judgment, or quietly checking in after a tough day.
“Dylan didn’t need to be the loudest person in the room to be the most important one,” one lifelong friend wrote on social media. “He just made everything better by being there.”
Family members say he was chasing big dreams with the same steady determination he brought to everything else—saving for the future, planning adventures, and always making time for the people he loved.
As Virginia authorities continue their investigation, those closest to Dylan are leaning on one another, sharing stories, photos, and memories of a life that ended far too soon but burned bright while it lasted.
“26 years wasn’t enough,” his family said in a statement, “but we’re going to spend the rest of ours making sure the world remembers how much light he brought into it.”
A celebration of life is being planned in Columbus for later this month. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to local mental health and first-responder organizations—causes Dylan quietly supported.
Dylan M. Hammond is survived by his parents, siblings, and a wide circle of friends who say they will carry his easy smile and steady heart with them always.