Walk like MADD Alabama honors two Auburn University students, Nick Hood and Cole Burton, who were hit as pedestrians by an impaired driver on May 24, 2018.
Nick Hood's Story:
Nicholas "Nick" Lawrence Hood, from Alabama, passed away after 37 days of fighting for his own life after being hit by an impaired driver in Calhoun County. Nick was an exceptional human, beloved brother and son, and his tragic absence has impacted so many lives. Nick's passion was geology. He thrived on learning and was eager to begin a new chapter after graduation. In May of 2018, Nick and his fellow Geology classmates from Auburn University set out on a field camp trip to study the formation of rocks. On May 24, Nick was collecting rock samples with his lab partner, Cole, when an impaired driver ran off the road and crashed into them.
Nick was medevacked to UAB. He was placed in a medically induced coma due the severity of his traumatic brain injury. Nick suffered from tibia, fibula, and pelvic fractures and underwent two orthopedic surgeries. His family was unprepared for the unfathomable outcome of what was to come. 37 days of painful news, horrible decision making, confusion, sorrow, and disbelief. During this time, Nick's parents took in the reality of their baby boy's bruised, broken, battered, and unresponsive body. They prayed and pleaded with God. Nick's sister bathed, turned, held, loved, and cared for her brother as he laid helplessly in the hospital bed, all while waiting, watching, and hoping a miracle would happen.
The driver was later convicted of driving under the influence and, due to their irresponsibility, Nick's family ultimately had to make the grueling, seemingly impossible decision to let him go, to end his suffering and allow him to pass as peacefully as possible. His parents and sister said goodbye to Nick on June 30 at 2:20 p.m. while they had the honor of holding him. Nick was only 31 years old.
One of his many friends described him as this: "No one on this Earth is like Nick Hood. He'd give anyone a chance, often time multiple ones. He had this way of making you feel like the coolest person in the room, but also like you were with the coolest person in the room. He was kind to everyone he met, generous with everything he had, fiercely loyal to his friends and family. He was always up for any kind of adventure. Nick wanted to squeeze everything he could out of every day he had. Most importantly, Nick loved his people and would do anything asked without hesitation for any of them. He was thoughtful, funny, and genuinely enjoyed making everyone around him happier. Nick, all in all, was a noble gentleman that is profoundly missed."
Cole Burton's Story:
Cole Burton became involved with Mothers Against Drunk Driving in 2018 when his life was changed by the reckless actions of a driver who would later be convicted for impaired driving due to a chemical substance.
On the afternoon of May 24, 2018, 21-year-old Cole Burton was finishing up a field camp Geology assignment along with 18 Auburn University classmates when a truck left the roadway and struck Cole and his lab partner Nick Hood. Cole and Nick's classmates rushed to provide aid until first responders arrived.
Cole was airlifted to UAB trauma center where he had emergency surgery and was placed on life support and was in a coma due to his severe injuries which included a traumatic brain injury, facial fractures, severed colon, and broken rib. After a month in the ICU at UAB, Cole was transferred to a rehab hospital in Atlanta where he would spend the next year in intense therapy to learn how to walk, talk and even eat again.
His goal of becoming a US Navy Officer was taken away because of his injuries. Cole has pivoted his goals to find purpose helping others regain mobility through his degree in Exercise Science and by sharing his story and highlighting the impact of impaired driving.