One year later: Parents of Hailey Brooks open up about struggles of losing a child, keeping her legacy alive

As Hailey Brooks' family approaches the 1-year mark of a tragedy that changed the rest of their lives, it's a natural time to reflect.

Brooks died while performing in the Raleigh Christmas Parade on Nov. 19, 2022. The 11-year-old girl was run over by an out-of-control pickup truck driven by Landen Glass. The tragic turn of events abruptly halted what was usually a cheerful day to ring in the holiday season, clouding it with heartbreak.

Hailey's parents, April and Trey Brooks, have faced tests of courage and fortitude in moving on without Hailey. With the holidays approaching, thoughts of Hailey are frequent. The grief, overwhelming at times, still lingers.

"I feel like we have every right to be angry," Trey Brooks told WRAL News. "This is not how it's supposed to be. We're not supposed to go to a parade with three kids and come home with two."

Trey and April have taken it upon themselves to preserve Hailey's memory and push leaders to bolster safety measures at big events put on by the city.

The 79th Christmas parade in Raleigh's history is scheduled for Saturday. The Brooks family will likely sit this one out, although Hailey loved parades. On Saturday, first responders will stand guard around a spot painted with sunflowers and ballet shoes in her memory.

"One of our biggest family traditions has been the Raleigh Christmas Parade," April Brooks said. "Hailey went even when she was a baby, and that was the first year that she was in the Raleigh parade and she was so excited."

Hailey was the oldest of three siblings and liked clogging. She danced at Main Street Studio in Fuquay-Varina and was well-liked by kids and adults.

"She really had a knack for loving others and having just so many friends," said April Brooks. "She was that kid that you wanted to be around, because she always made you feel good."

2023 has featured many tears, but turning them into smiles has brought moments of peace and gratitude during a turbulent year.

"I think for me, it was seeing the impact that she's made on her friends," April said. "She's not here with us. But she's still alive. She's still here, doing all these amazing things."

'I think it was Hailey'

April Brooks said the family didn't know what happened until they arrived at the hospital, initially thinking everyone in the dance group was fine. April and Trey Brooks were positioned on Fayetteville Street toward the end of the parade route so they could greet Hailey when she arrived. The accident occurred on Hillsborough Street, meaning they heard from family watching the parade on TV about a stoppage.

"My parents were watching it live on television," April Brooks said. "And she freaked. My mom called both of our phones. She called me first. I didn't pick up and Trey picked up. And she was just hysterical. She said, 'I think a dancer was hit, I think it was Hailey.' She said she just had this feeling it was her. And we didn't know what she was talking about."

Parents with kids in the CC and Co. Dance club arranged a group text to exchange information as moms and dads were struck with worry over what happened.

"With somebody's mom, I got a message that said the seniors are okay, they got out of the way," April Brooks said. "And so I told Trey to go pick her up."

Trey Brooks eventually went to WakeMed Hospital in a police officer's car. April Brooks got a police escort to the hospital some time later.

"And we still didn't know why," April Brooks said. "They wouldn't tell him anything. And so I was left on Fayetteville Street for a while. Another officer was supposed to come pick me up. But I saw two officers about a block away. And so I ran to them and asked them what was going on. And they escorted Molly and Camden and I to the hospital. So I just ran through the emergency bay. I got past all the security. And my mom was already there. And Trey. And they had found out about 30 seconds to a minute before I did. And just a shock of hearing those words, you know and just ..."

April and Trey Brooks never got to embrace Hailey as planned.

"We were seated towards the end of the parade so we could scoop her up when she was finished and she never made it," her mother said. "She never made it to us."

'Shine Like Hailey'

The Brookses started a foundation to honor Hailey's life, called Shine Like Hailey. The foundation aims to provide scholarships and programs to enable young people to experience the world through dance.

They say it's a way to help them as they celebrate milestones and holidays. On Hailey's birthday earlier in November, they delivered bags of supplies to homeless people in Charlotte.

You can help the family through a GoFundMe.

For the police officers and firefighters who responded last year, April and Trey Brooks expressed profound admiration and appreciation.

Fighting for more safety at parades

The couple has asked the city of Raleigh and parade stakeholders to impose safety guidelines, which they feel are common sense and not overly restrictive.

Hailey's death has led to city officials rethinking how they handle parades and North Carolina lawmakers to consider a statewide safety standard to prevent injuries at community celebrations through the Shine Like Hailey Parade Safety Act.

On Sept. 15, the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association announced this year's parade will be held without vehicles. The day before, the city said it would not grant a special event permit application for the 2023 Raleigh Christmas Parade.

Controversy has surrounded this year's Raleigh Christmas Parade as stakeholders have worked to mitigate risks for parade participants and the public. Trey and April have filed a civil lawsuit that names Glass, as well as C.C. & Co. Dance Complex, Greater Raleigh Merchants Association (doing business as Shop Local Raleigh) and D&L Floats as defendants.

The city eventually decided to move forward with a modified parade with respect to the sensitivities around the requested new safety precautions while maintaining the spirit of the event. Raleigh recently decided not to hold a traditional Veterans Day Parade, opting for a ceremony at the Capitol.