Ashley Hagood Killed in Moulton Car Accident
Two other children critically injured in two-vehicle collision at Highway 157 and Highway 24
Ashley Hagood, 33, and two children were killed, and two other children were critically injured in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway 157 and Highway 24 in Moulton, Lawrence County, on Saturday, according to city officials.
First responders arrived at the scene around 11 a.m. to find an SUV and a truck involved in a severe collision with confirmed entrapment. Emergency crews worked to free the passengers from the wreckage, and the intersection remained closed for several hours before reopening.
Lawrence County Coroner Scott Norwood pronounced 13-year-old Bryant Ballew and 7-year-old Bryleigh Pledger dead at the scene. Hagood, who was driving the SUV, died shortly after arriving at a local hospital.
Paramedics airlifted 10-year-old Bentley Pledger and 7-year-old Brynleigh Pledger to UAB Children's Hospital in critical condition. The driver of the truck suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
The crash remains under investigation by local authorities. No charges have been announced.
What caused the fatal crash at Highway 157 and Highway 24?
The sudden loss of a mother and two children, along with the critical injuries suffered by the surviving siblings, leaves a family facing unimaginable grief. While investigators work to determine which driver had the right of way at the Moulton intersection, independent crash reconstruction is often necessary to preserve evidence for the surviving children.
National Legal Analyst Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal, noted that "Nobody thinks a routine trip to the store will end in a tragedy that breaks a family's heart. Intersection fatalities often happen because of a stale green light, where drivers accelerate too quickly to beat the yellow."
According to the Alabama Department of Transportation, the state recorded 974 fatal motor vehicle crashes in 2023, highlighting the severe risks present on local roadways.
How will investigators determine liability in the Moulton collision?
Because the injured and deceased children were passengers, they bear no fault for the collision. Authorities will examine skid marks, vehicle damage, and potential witness statements to determine if either the truck driver or the SUV driver committed a traffic violation that led to the impact.
National Legal Analyst Stefano Formica, Of Bond Legal, noted that "The confusion after a collision is normal, but it's why we look at the timing of the traffic lights. A stale green light makes people speed up, and that isn't a safe way to enter any intersection."
Families of injured or deceased passengers often face complex insurance dynamics when multiple vehicles are involved. Establishing the exact sequence of events is critical to ensuring the children's medical and recovery needs are fully addressed through the appropriate liability channels.
Alabama wrongful death statute
Under Ala. Code § 6-5-410, surviving family members of a person killed in a traffic collision may file a wrongful death action in Alabama. The state applies contributory negligence (one of only 4 states) when determining liability. The statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is 2 years from the date of death.
Unlike most states, recoverable damages under Alabama's wrongful death statute are strictly punitive rather than compensatory. These damages are designed to punish the at-fault party for their negligence rather than to calculate exact financial losses. Alabama law designates specific parties — typically a surviving spouse, children, or parents — as eligible to bring a wrongful death action.