NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – An Austin Peay State University football player was killed by an alleged drunk driver Tuesday night.
WSMV4 spoke with the player’s family Wednesday afternoon. “I am devastated,” his mom, Dionne Bryant, said. “It is hard for me to wrap my head about it.”
William Hardrick’s parents are heartbroken after they said he was killed by a drunk driver on I-65 right outside of Huntsville, Alabama on Tuesday night.
“All we know is he was heading home and an 18-wheeler, the guy was intoxicated,” Bryant said. “He ran through eight cars and kept going.”
The string of crashes shut down the interstate for nearly 30 miles, and the driver has now been charged with Hardrick’s murder. His family said they were told their son was wearing a seatbelt, but his car flipped several times.
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The 22-year-old APSU senior football player was back home to get his REAL ID before Wednesday’s deadline.
“Just why,” his dad, Ervin Stone, asked. “Why William? William was the kid who did everything right, stayed out of trouble, stayed in school and went through all of those obstacles.”
Hardrick was a transfer from Miami University in Ohio after first attending Mississippi State. His first football season at Austin Peay would have been for the 2025 season.
“There, he finally found his spot,” Stone said. “He finally felt that someone really wanted him and to represent him.”
Head football coach Jeff Faris said in a statement, “William Hardrick was an exceptional young man, and our team is heartbroken by his loss.”
Hardrick’s parents said he was looking forward to graduating college and had dreams of making it to the NFL.
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