Wilson County Community Grieves for 6-Year-Old Maverick After Tragic Bridgersville Road Crash
Maverick Hardison, 6, died April 27 in head-on crash near Elm City, NC; father Jonathan Hardison charged with DWI, sister Heidi seriously injured
A rural road in Wilson County, North Carolina, became the site of heartbreaking loss Monday afternoon when a head-on crash took the life of a 6-year-old boy and left his father and sister seriously injured. The collision on Bridgersville Road near Elm City has devastated a local family and prompted an outpouring of support as the community learns what happened just before 4 p.m. on April 27.
The crash occurred when a 2022 Toyota Corolla traveling west crossed the center line into the eastbound lane and struck a 2024 Toyota Sequoia head-on. Both vehicles came to rest in the roadway near the intersection with Haynes Road, an area familiar to many families who travel the two-lane route daily between farms, schools, and small communities east of Elm City.
Behind the wheel of the Corolla was 31-year-old Jonathan M. Hardison of Elm City, with his two young children riding in the back seat. His 6-year-old son, identified through a family fundraiser as Maverick, was not properly restrained and died at the scene. His 7-year-old daughter, identified as Heidi, and Hardison were airlifted with serious injuries to ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville, where they are expected to survive and face a long recovery.
The driver of the Sequoia, 40-year-old Gina W. Bridgers, was traveling with two children of her own at the time of the impact. All three escaped the crash without physical injuries, though the emotional toll of being involved in a fatal collision involving young children is profound and lasting for any driver and family in the tight-knit community.
In the wake of the tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support the Hardison family with funeral expenses for Maverick, medical costs for Heidi and their father, and the everyday needs that continue during a time of grief. The fundraiser has quickly drawn donations and messages from neighbors, classmates, teachers, and strangers moved by the loss of a child.
The crash has also led to serious charges. Hardison faces allegations of driving while impaired, crossing left of center, and failing to secure a child in a weight-appropriate restraint system. These charges highlight the devastating consequences that can follow impaired driving and the critical importance of proper child safety seats and booster seats on every trip, no matter how short.
Child passenger safety advocates across North Carolina emphasize that correct restraints reduce the risk of fatal injury by more than half for young children. A properly fitted car seat or booster, used every time and checked for tight installation, can mean the difference between life and death in a crash, especially in high-speed head-on collisions where forces are extreme.
As Wilson County mourns Maverick and prays for Heidi's recovery, the focus is turning to both compassion and prevention. Supporting the family through donations and kindness matters deeply, and so does remembering the lessons this tragedy carries about making safe choices behind the wheel, protecting children in the back seat, and never driving impaired on roads we all share.
