BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A Birmingham community is grieving after a 13-year-old boy, struck by a hit-and-run driver, succumbed to his injuries earlier this week. Braylen Hardy, an avid ATV rider, was seated on his four-wheeler on the sidewalk when a vehicle fleeing a nearby shooting scene veered into him, according to police. The driver allegedly fled on foot after the impact, leaving the boy critically injured on Avenue E.
The tragedy unfolded on Saturday evening, with gunfire nearby on Avenue D. Hardy’s mother, Vanessa Riggs, received a frantic call from his father, who was at the scene. Rushing to Children’s of Alabama Hospital, Riggs was met with devastating news as doctors assessed the extent of her son’s injuries. “They told me it wasn’t looking good,” she recalled, “but I still held out hope that he would pull through.”
As doctors conducted further tests, Riggs was faced with an impossible decision. Despite her prayers and hope, it became clear that Hardy’s brain injuries were too severe for recovery. On Tuesday, she made the painful choice to let him go. “Yesterday, I couldn’t let him suffer anymore,” she said. “His heart stopped. I just had to give him to God.”
Now, Riggs is demanding accountability for the driver responsible for the crash, saying her son’s life was senselessly cut short. “My child had plans. I will never see my baby again,” she said, expressing her frustration and grief. “Not only did you hit a kid, you killed my child. You should never see the streets again.”
Hardy, a seventh-grade student at Bush Hills STEAM Academy, has left a profound void in his community. The school has extended its condolences, offering counseling and support to students and staff affected by the tragedy. Birmingham police are continuing to investigate, though they have yet to release details on the charges the driver may face.
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