Lawrence County Mother Ashley Hagood was killed Saturday in a violent crash that shattered a family and left a community in shock in Alabama.
The crash happened at the intersection of Alabama Highway 157 and Alabama Highway 24 in Lawrence County. Authorities said a 33-year-old mother, Ashley Hagood, was driving a Chevy Suburban with her four children inside when tragedy struck.
According to officials, the SUV was hit on the side by a Ford F-150 truck. The impact was severe and immediate, leaving little chance for survival for some of the passengers inside.
Two of Hagood’s children, 13-year-old Bryant Ballew and 7-year-old Bryleigh Pledger, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
Emergency responders rushed the remaining children, Bentley Pledger, 10, and Brynleigh Pledger, 7, to Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham. Both were listed in critical condition in the ICU.
Ashley Hagood was also transported to a nearby hospital after the crash, but she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival, deepening the loss for the family.
Authorities identified Hagood through the Lawrence County coroner. Officials confirmed the crash involved two vehicles and took place at a major rural intersection that has since reopened after hours of delays.
Loved ones described Hagood as a devoted mother and a bright presence in her children’s lives, sharing tributes online as the family tried to process the sudden tragedy.
Investigators are still working to determine exactly how the crash unfolded, while the community continues to mourn the devastating loss of a mother and two children.
