SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
As Alabamians prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July with cookouts, fireworks and family gatherings, law enforcement officials are reminding drivers that the holiday should end with memories—not tragedy. The Independence Day weekend is consistently one of the nation’s deadliest travel periods, with alcohol-impaired driving contributing to a significant number of fatal crashes. Authorities are urging motorists to make responsible choices by designating a sober driver, using a rideshare service, or arranging alternative transportation before consuming alcohol. Their message comes as Lawrence County continues to grapple with the heartbreaking aftermath of an alleged DUI crash that claimed the lives of a mother and three of her children—a devastating reminder that one reckless decision behind the wheel can forever change countless lives.
The warning comes as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launches its annual Fourth of July impaired-driving awareness campaign. According to NHTSA, 2,719 people were killed in traffic crashes during the Fourth of July holiday periods from 2020 through 2024, and 38% of the drivers killed were alcohol-impaired. The agency urges motorists to plan ahead for a sober ride home before celebrations begin.
The tragedy at the center of those warnings occurred shortly before 11 a.m. on April 11 at the intersection of Alabama Highways 157 and 24 in Moulton.
A Lawrence County grand jury has indicted Garrett Cole Nix, 35, of Decatur, on four counts of manslaughter, one count of first-degree assault, driving under the influence and multiple traffic violations. Nix surrendered Monday to the Lawrence County Jail and is scheduled to be arraigned in August.
According to investigators, Ashley Dawn Hagood, 33, of Hartselle, was driving her family north on Alabama Highway 157 in a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban when authorities say Nix, traveling east on Alabama Highway 24 in a Ford F-150 pulling a trailer carrying a utility vehicle, failed to stop at a red traffic signal and crashed into the family’s SUV.
Killed were Hagood, her 13-year-old son, Bryant Ballew, and her 7-year-old twin daughters, Bryleigh Grace Pledger and Brynleigh Nell Pledger. Brynleigh was transported to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital, where she died four days later. Hagood’s 10-year-old son, Bentley Pledger, survived the crash after suffering serious injuries and was later able to attend the funerals of his mother and siblings.
Investigators spent hundreds of hours reconstructing the crash, reviewing surveillance video, interviewing witnesses and analyzing digital and physical evidence. Officials said the investigation determined the traffic signal was functioning properly and that Nix’s traffic light had been red for a significant period before his pickup entered the intersection.
“They did not rush to judgment,” Moulton Mayor Patrick Ryan Jolly said. “Instead, they anchored their work in rigorous commitment to the truth, ensuring that no stone was left unturned.”
Moulton Police Chief Craig Knight called the collision “one of the most tragic and horrific events imaginable.”
“This crash affected so many families, and all those that witnessed the incident, as well as first responders,” Knight said. “We did everything possible to seek justice for each and every victim.”
The case has renewed attention on Alabama’s DUI laws as thousands of motorists prepare to travel over the holiday weekend. Under Alabama law, drivers age 21 and older are considered legally impaired with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%, while the limit is 0.04% for commercial drivers and 0.02% for drivers younger than 21 under the state’s Zero Tolerance law.
Alabama also operates under an implied consent law, meaning anyone lawfully arrested for DUI is considered to have consented to a breath, blood or urine test. Although drivers may refuse testing, that refusal can trigger an automatic driver’s license suspension and may be introduced as evidence in court. Depending on the circumstances, DUI convictions can result in jail time, substantial fines, mandatory treatment programs, ignition interlock requirements and lengthy license suspensions. When impaired driving results in a fatal crash, prosecutors may pursue serious felony charges, including manslaughter.
Beyond the criminal case, Hagood’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit seeking accountability.
In her obituary, Hagood was remembered as a devoted mother whose life revolved around her family. Her twin daughters were described as children whose kindness and bright personalities touched everyone they met. Bryant was remembered as an energetic teenager who loved baseball, paintball, motocross, hunting, fishing and the outdoors.
Nationally, impaired driving remains one of the leading causes of preventable traffic deaths. NHTSA reported that 11,904 people were killed in alcohol-impaired crashes in 2024, representing nearly one-third of all traffic fatalities nationwide.
As families gather across Alabama to celebrate Independence Day, law enforcement officials hope the deaths of Ashley Hagood and her three children become more than another tragic headline. They hope their story reminds every driver that the safest decision is made before the keys ever go into the ignition. Choosing a designated driver, calling a rideshare, staying the night or handing over the keys may seem like a small decision—but for one Alabama family, that opportunity never came.
Sources: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); Alabama Code § 32-5A-191; reporting by Carol Robinson, AL.com (case-specific facts).