A year after parade tragedy, where charges, civil suit and proposed legislation stand

A year ago, the annual Raleigh Christmas Parade came to a grinding halt as tragedy descended on the day’s festivities.

As a troupe from CC & Co Dance Complex processed past a sea of smiling onlookers on Hillsborough Street, a truck pulling a float behind the group suddenly lost control. Hailey Brooks, 11, a dancer with the troupe, was struck and killed by the truck.

Soon after, then 20-year-old Landen Glass, the driver of the truck and a former dancer with CC & Co. Dance Complex, was charged for his role in Hailey’s death.

One year later, here is where the case stands against Glass, parade organizers and the CC & Co. Dance Complex.

The criminal case against Landen Glass

Glass was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, careless and reckless driving, improper equipment, unsafe movement and carrying a firearm in a parade.

In March, a grand jury returned a true bill of indictment stating that Glass’s charge of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle would be elevated to felony involuntary manslaughter.

“Landen is so sorry for what happened. He’s haunted by what happened. He will be haunted by those events for the rest of his life,” said his attorney, Roger Smith. “He tried desperately to avoid what happened that day. He did everything he could to stop that truck that day, but he just couldn’t.”

Prosecutors said Glass had several opportunities to prevent Hailey’s death.

His truck had missed multiple vehicle inspections before the parade, and he had modified the vehicle truck to remove the emergency brake, according to prosecutor Shaun Taylor.

At the time, Judge Keith Gregory set Glass’s secured bond at $250,000. He also required that Glass have electronic monitoring and banned him from driving in North Carolina without being properly licensed. Glass also must drive a vehicle that has been properly inspected.

Glass was released on bond soon after. He has not been required to appear in person in court since the spring.

On Nov. 6, his case was continued. His next court date has not been set.

The civil case filed by Hailey Brooks’s parents

In the wake of Hailey’s death, April and Trey Brooks of Raleigh, her parents, filed a wrongful death suit in April against several parties.

“This action is brought to ensure that those responsible for Hailey’s death are held accountable and to ensure that no other child or person is hurt or killed by the recklessness of those entrusted with and responsible for the safety of the children and attendees at this Raleigh tradition,” the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit names Glass; CC & Co Dance Complex; D and L Floats LLC, a parade float provider; and the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association, the parade organizers.

“Hailey’s death was foreseeable and would have been prevented if basic, reasonable and well-known safety protocols had been adopted and enforced,” the lawsuit states.

The 56-page lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of all parties. Glass is referenced most for improper maintenance, illegal truck modifications and outstanding vehicle violations, according to the complaint.

The complaint says the Brooks family is seeking $25,000 or more on each of the 10 claims, which include wrongful death, negligence and gross negligence and liability. They are being represented by Raleigh-based law firm Miller Monroe & Plyler, according to court documents.

The lawsuit claims that Glass was not the person honking his horn to alert people about the brake failure and that he did not attempt to drive the vehicle away from dancers. “Glass did not swerve or attempt to avoid Hailey. He drove directly over her,” the complaint states.

The rest of the lawsuit alleges a chain of negligence that let Glass drive in the parade. It claims CC & Co. allowed Glass to drive their company float in the parade and did not provide adequate safety training for parade performers. “None of the pre-parade communications to parents of CC & Co. students related to safety or emergency procedures,” the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit states that CC & Co. should have been aware of Glass’s driving history and vehicle condition before permitting him to drive in the parade.

The Shine Like Hailey Foundation

In March, April and Trey Brooks announced they would be launching a charity to honor their daughter called the “Shine Like Hailey Foundation.”

“Whether she knew it or not, her impact on this world exceeded her 11 years on it,” reads a section of the foundation’s website.

Trey Brooks said in March he hopes this tragedy can help create “meaningful change” in regard to safety protocols at parades. Most importantly, he said, this foundation was created to remember and honor his daughter.

Through tears and a consoling hug from his wife, Trey Brooks said he remembers Hailey for her kindness.

”As a father — as her parents — we can’t really put into words the individual she was,” Brooks said. “She was a beautiful life. She was kind and caring, brilliant and beautiful. She was a free spirit who yearned to be around people. She loved to give a big hug, and that’s what we’ll remember about who she was.”

In the aftermath of Hailey’s death, the Brooks family raised more than $100,000.

The Parade Safety Bill

A major part of Hailey’s legacy has been tied to the “Shine Like Hailey Parade Safety Bill” that aims to tighten safety measures on local parades to avoid another tragedy.

The bill was proposed in the North Carolina Senate by Sen. Mary Bode in April.

The bill outlines two key areas that Hailey’s parents say could have prevented their daughter’s death: vehicle inspections and driver competency. It would require parade organizers in cities of 35,000 or more residents to inspect vehicles within seven days of the parade and to ensure each one is registered and insured. It would also require anyone driving in the parade to be at least 25 years old and have a valid driver’s license.

The bill would allow municipalities of fewer than 35,000 to enact the same requirements but wouldn’t require them to.

The proposed legislation does not require mechanics to inspect the vehicles. Instead, inspections would be completed by the local police and fire department of the municipality hosting the parade.

Brooks voiced his concern about the responsibility of inspections falling on “untrained individuals” to a transportation safety committee in the spring.

“Speaking with law enforcement that have been involved in parades before, they’re not qualified necessarily to do that,” he said.

The bill has not been passed, one year after Hailey’s death.

This story was originally published November 16, 2023 at 12:51 PM.