Ashley Hagood Car Accident Alabama Death: 33-Year-Old Mother, Bryant Ballew (13), and Bryleigh Pledger (7) Killed in Lawrence County Crash on Highway 157 & 24 – Bentley Pledger and Brynleigh Pledger Critical.

A Family’s Unthinkable Tragedy: Three Lives Lost, Two Children Fighting for Survival

The small communities of Lawrence County, Alabama, are reeling after a catastrophic two-vehicle collision on Saturday claimed the lives of a young mother and two of her children, leaving two other siblings in critical condition. The victims have been identified as 33-year-old Ashley Hagood, her son 13-year-old Bryant Ballew, and her daughter 7-year-old Bryleigh Pledger. Two other children—10-year-old Bentley Pledger and 7-year-old Brynleigh Pledger—survived the initial impact but remain hospitalized in grave condition.

The crash occurred at one of the most dangerous intersections in the region: the crossing of Alabama Highway 157 and Alabama Highway 24. According to preliminary reports from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), the collision took place around 2:45 p.m. on Saturday afternoon under clear skies and dry road conditions—making the devastation all the more shocking to seasoned investigators.

The Crash: A T-Bone Impact at a Rural Crossroads

Ashley Hagood was driving a Chevrolet Suburban eastbound on Highway 24 with all four of her children as passengers. At the same time, a Ford F-150 pickup truck was traveling southbound on Highway 157. The two vehicles entered the intersection nearly simultaneously. Witnesses at a nearby gas station told investigators that the Suburban appeared to have the right of way, but the F-150 did not stop or slow down before the crossing.

The Ford struck the driver’s side of the Suburban directly in a classic “T-bone” configuration. The force of the impact pushed the Suburban off the roadway and into a shallow drainage ditch, where it came to rest on its passenger side. Debris scattered across both lanes of Highway 157, and the Ford F-150 came to a stop approximately 50 yards away, its front end completely crumpled.

Lawrence County Sheriff’s deputies arrived within six minutes of the first 911 call. What they found was described in accident reports as “one of the most heartbreaking scenes” of their careers. Ashley Hagood was unconscious but still breathing, trapped behind the steering wheel. In the back seat, Bryant Ballew and Bryleigh Pledger showed no signs of life. Bentley and Brynleigh Pledger were both severely injured but conscious and crying.

Victims Pronounced Dead at the Scene

Despite rapid efforts from first responders, Bryant Ballew, 13, and Bryleigh Pledger, 7, were pronounced dead at the scene by Lawrence County Coroner Scott Norwood. The coroner later released a brief statement: “Both children suffered blunt-force trauma inconsistent with survival. Their mother, Ashley, was alive when extracted but died en route to the hospital.”

Ashley Hagood was airlifted by medical helicopter to Huntsville Hospital, but her injuries—including internal bleeding and multiple fractures—proved too severe. She was pronounced dead at 4:22 p.m. Saturday, less than two hours after the crash.

The driver of the Ford F-150, a 54-year-old male whose name has not yet been released pending further investigation, was treated at the scene for minor injuries and later transported to Lawrence Medical Center. He is cooperating with authorities, and no charges have been filed as of Sunday evening. Alcohol and drugs are not suspected, but toxicology results are pending.

The Surviving Children: Bentley and Brynleigh Pledger

The two surviving siblings, 10-year-old Bentley Pledger and 7-year-old Brynleigh Pledger, were initially taken by ambulance to Decatur Morgan Hospital before being transferred to Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham, the state’s premier pediatric trauma center.

Bentley suffered a collapsed lung, a fractured femur, and a lacerated spleen. He underwent emergency surgery Saturday night and was listed in critical but stable condition as of Sunday morning. Doctors are cautiously optimistic about his recovery but warn of a long rehabilitation ahead.

Brynleigh, the youngest surviving child, sustained a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), multiple facial fractures, and a broken pelvis. She remains in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Children’s of Alabama, where she is sedated and on a ventilator. Neurosurgeons have performed two procedures to relieve pressure on her brain. Her prognosis remains guarded, and the next 72 hours are considered critical.

Family members have gathered at the hospital, maintaining a round-the-clock vigil. A cousin, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “Brynleigh is a fighter. She always has been. But we are praying harder than we’ve ever prayed. Bentley keeps asking for his mom. We haven’t told him yet that she’s gone.”

Community in Mourning: Remembering Ashley Hagood

Ashley Hagood was born and raised in Moulton, Alabama, the county seat of Lawrence County. Friends describe her as a devoted mother who worked as a certified nursing assistant at a local assisted living facility. She was known for her bright smile, her habit of bringing homemade banana pudding to potlucks, and her fierce protection of her four children.

“She lived for those kids,” said longtime friend Megan Stallings. “Ashley didn’t have much money, but her children never knew it. She made every birthday special, every Christmas magical. She would give you the shirt off her back. And now she’s gone, just like that.”

Hagood’s Facebook page, now a digital memorial, is filled with photos of Bryant, Bryleigh, Bentley, and Brynleigh at school events, birthday parties, and simple days at home. In her last post, shared just two days before the crash, she wrote: “Counting my blessings. My four babies are healthy and happy. That’s all that matters.”

Bryant Ballew, 13, was in eighth grade at Moulton Middle School. He played junior varsity football and loved fishing with his grandfather on the Bankhead Lake. His teachers remember him as quiet but kind, always willing to help a classmate struggling with math.

Bryleigh Pledger, 7, was a first-grader at Moulton Elementary. Her teacher told local news that Bryleigh had just learned to read chapter books and was proud to show off her library card. “She had the biggest brown eyes and the sweetest giggle,” the teacher said, wiping away tears.

The Other Vehicle and the Investigation

The driver of the Ford F-150 has been identified by family sources as a local farmer returning from a feed store. He has not been publicly named, and Alabama State Troopers have stated that the investigation is “active and ongoing.” Key questions remain: Did the F-150 run a stop sign? Was there a mechanical failure? Was speed a factor?

Highway 157 and Highway 24 intersect in a rural area with limited lighting and no traffic signals—only stop signs on the Highway 24 approaches. Local residents have long complained that the intersection is dangerous, especially during afternoon hours when the sun creates glare.

“We’ve been asking for a traffic light for years,” said Lawrence County Commissioner Bobby Burch. “Three or four serious accidents happen here annually. But funding is always the issue. Now a family is destroyed. It makes you sick.”

Crash reconstruction experts from ALEA are analyzing skid marks, vehicle black box data, and witness statements. A decision on whether to file charges—which could range from reckless driving to manslaughter—is expected within two weeks.

The Children’s Fight for Life

At Children’s of Alabama, medical teams are working around the clock. Dr. Sarah Lin, a pediatric intensivist, provided a brief update Sunday morning: “Bentley has responded well to surgery. We are hopeful. Brynleigh remains our greatest concern. Her brain injury is severe, but children have remarkable plasticity. We are doing everything possible.”

The hospital has assigned a child life specialist to support Bentley and Brynleigh’s extended family, who are struggling to process the simultaneous loss of three family members while praying for two more.

A GoFundMe campaign organized by a family friend, Jessica Turner, had raised over $87,000 within 24 hours of the crash. The funds will cover funeral expenses for Ashley Hagood, Bryant Ballew, and Bryleigh Pledger, as well as ongoing medical costs for Bentley and Brynleigh.

“No family should have to plan funerals and fight for lives in the same weekend,” Turner wrote. “Ashley was a single mother. She had no life insurance. Every dollar helps.”

Calls for Road Safety Improvements

The tragedy has reignited a long-simmering debate about infrastructure safety in rural Alabama. According to the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), Lawrence County recorded 14 fatal crashes in 2025, with three of those occurring at the Highway 157/24 intersection alone.

State Representative Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville) released a statement Sunday: “My heart is shattered for the Hagood and Pledger families. I am immediately requesting ALDOT conduct a traffic study at this intersection. We cannot bring back Ashley, Bryant, or Bryleigh, but we can honor their memory by making sure no other family endures this pain.”

Local residents plan to hold a vigil Monday evening at the crash site, where a growing memorial of crosses, flowers, and stuffed animals now stands.

How to Help

Those wishing to support the family can donate to the official “Hagood & Pledger Children’s Recovery Fund” via GoFundMe (verified by Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office) or by sending checks to:

Lawrence County Baptist Association
Attention: Hagood/Pledger Fund
PO Box 426, Moulton, AL 35650

Additionally, the Children’s of Alabama hospital accepts donations in the names of Bentley and Brynleigh Pledger for pediatric trauma care.

A Community’s Promise

As the sun set over Lawrence County on Sunday evening, the intersection of Highway 157 and Highway 24 was quiet—almost eerily so. The Suburban and the Ford have been towed away, but the dark scars on the asphalt remain.

Ashley Hagood’s neighbor, 72-year-old Martha Collins, stood at the edge of the road holding a single white rose. “I watched those children grow up,” she said softly. “Bryant helping his mom carry groceries. Bryleigh riding her bike. Now all that’s left is two little ones in a hospital bed, not even knowing their mother is gone. It’s not right. It’s just not right.”

But even in grief, there is resolve. The community has pledged to stay by Bentley and Brynleigh’s side—through every surgery, every setback, every small step toward recovery. And when the time comes, they will tell them about their mother’s love, their brother’s kindness, and their sister’s laugh.

For now, Lawrence County waits. For answers. For justice. For a miracle.