UNION COUNTY, N.C. — Fundraisers are underway to support a Union County family, after a young father was hit by a tractor trailer that ran a red light.
A Charlotte-based photographer with a connection to the family started a fundraiser as a way to use her talents to help the couple in their time of need.
“I’ve met some amazing families on this journey of being a photographer,” said wedding and lifestyle photographer Ali Robbins.
Over the years, Robbins says she has been there to help families document some of life’s most special moments, including when acquaintance Jordyn Hazelton first welcomed her baby girl.
“We recently connected when she had her daughter," Robbins said. "It was around the same time I had my daughter and so we followed each-others journeys and she contacted me to take pictures of her daughter."
Through the years, Robbins says she’s been there to capture more of the Hazelton’s life events.
But Friday, the family she had come to know found themselves in-the-midst of tragedy. Highway Patrol says Scottie Hazelton, Jordyn’s husband, was driving along Highway 218 in Union County when a tractor trailer ran the red light at the intersection of NC-218 and US-601.
“At that time, he impacted with the pick-up truck which in turn collided with another vehicle that was in the intersection at the same time,” said highway patrol trooper, Ray Pierce. “Usually they’re pretty good about stopping. Unfortunately, in this case he didn’t and he was upfront and honest and said, 'I ran the red light.'”
Highway patrol says the driver of the tractor trailer was cited for failure to stop for a steady red light, while Hazelton was airlifted to the hospital. Robbins says Hazelton suffered a traumatic brain injury from the crash, called Diffuse Axonal Injury.
“I’m just completely heartbroken for their family," Robbins said. "It’s unimaginable for me and I immediately wanted to do something to help."
So with the same camera that captured the Hazelton’s at happy times, Robbins hoped her photography could help lessen the burdens the young family will face ahead. After the crash, Robbins took to Facebook to offer $100 mini photography sessions -- all proceeds going to the family.
Robbins says the sessions filled up in minutes.
“In 24-hours I received over 200 inquiries of people wanting to book a session with me, so I decided to make a GoFundMe page where people could directly donate, that weren’t able to get a session but that would still like to help the family.”
In just one day the GoFundMe has raised more than $900.
But as the community prays for Hazelton’s recovery, many are again calling for tougher traffic enforcement along these notoriously dangerous highways.
The speed limit for both highways is 55, but neighbors say it’s often ignored. Highway Patrol says during 2018, 106 collisions occurred along US-601 -- resulting in 65 injuries.
“Obviously as speeds go up so do your chances of having a collision, reaction times tend to slow down,” Trooper Pierce said.
NC-218 can be worse, as it’s a rural two-lane highway that runs from Mint Hill to Polkton and is not only a significant truck route, but is also clogged with seasonal beach-bound traffic during summer months.
Over the last couple of years, the Union County Sheriff’s Office has tried cracking down on speeders. In the first two months of 2019 alone, they say they’ve made 45 traffic stops.