NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. — An unthinkable tragedy occurred just before Thanksgiving.
On Monday, Braden Stevenson, 12, went to the garage of his grandmother’s home with a friend to look for his missing hamster.
His father still can’t cope with what happened next.
"I’m thankful that God has given me 12 years with my son. I’m thankful that I have memories with him," said Cory Stevenson.
The family says Braden was in the garage looking for the pet while on the phone with his father.
“The next thing I know, it just sounded like a crash," Cory Stevenson said.
For reasons that are still unclear and a car lost control on Kirkland Road, and slammed into the garage, pinning Braden against the wall.
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“I could hear everything on the phone. I was crying out for him, and he wasn’t answering," Cory Stevenson said.
The injuries were too severe. Braden died a short time later at the hospital.
“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," Cory Stevenson said.
The crash also severely injured Braden’s friend, Lucas McWilliams.
“I hate that the memories stop. There can’t be any more made after this," Cory Stevenson said.
Two GoFundMe campaigns have been created to help the family and support his friend. Click this link and this one to donate.