A 12-year-old boy is dead and another is in critical condition after being hit by an out-of-control car while in a garage in Covington, their families said.
Cory Stevenson told Channel 2 Action News that his son, Braden, died Monday after being hit by the car that smashed into the garage at Braden’s grandmother’s house.
“I’m thankful that God has given me 12 years with my son,” Cory Stevenson said. “I’m thankful that I have memories with him.”
Braden Stevenson and his best friend, Lucas McWilliams, were looking for Braden’s missing hamster — which was an early Christmas gift from his grandmother — in the garage, according to GoFundMe pages set up by the families.
Cory Stevenson was on the phone with his son when he heard something no parent ever wants to hear.
“The next thing I know, it just sounded like a crash,” Cory Stevenson told Channel 2. “I could hear everything on the phone. I was crying out for him, and he wasn’t answering.”
For an unknown reason, a car lost control on Kirkland Road and slammed into the garage, pinning Braden Stevenson against the wall and running over McWilliams, Channel 2 reported. Braden Stevenson died at Piedmont Newton Hospital.
“You’re the father. You need to be there to do something but you can’t,” Cory Stevenson said, choking up. “Just to see the life of a vibrant 12-year-old so excited to be on Thanksgiving break ... and then all of a sudden out of nowhere a vehicle comes in.”
McWilliams was seriously injured and flown to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, Channel 2 reported.
The GoFundMe page for McWilliams said both of his legs were crushed and he suffered severe vascular damage to his femoral artery. He’s already had “a plate (inserted) from his hip to his knee, pins in both knees, a halo to hold his tibia and femur together and 41 units worth of blood transfusions.” He’s scheduled to undergo more surgery on Thanksgiving.
Here's a link to Braden Stevenson's GoFundMe page, which is fundraising for funeral costs. Here's a link to McWilliams' GoFundMe page, which is fundraising for his medical expenses.
As of Wednesday night, Braden Stevenson’s page had raised more than $8,500 and McWilliams’ page had raised more than $1,200.
Covington police told AJC.com the Newton County Sheriff’s Office responded to this incident. The sheriff’s office hasn’t gotten back to us yet.
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