A Dallas family is heartbroken and searching for answers after their 13-year-old son was badly injured in a hit-and-run accident. The driver, 46-year-old Jerome Walker, told police he thought he hit a construction sign, but investigators say there’s no sign of that—only damage that matches hitting a child.
What Happened
On Sunday evening, young Bradley Daniels Jr. was walking with his friends in the Red Bird area of Dallas, near Friendship Baptist Church. The group tried to cross Wheatland Road to avoid a loose dog when, out of nowhere, a truck hit Bradley.
The driver, later identified as Walker, didn’t stop. He kept going.
How Police Caught the Driver
Dallas detectives searched Flock cameras in the area, looking for any clue about the vehicle involved. They found footage of a tan Dodge pickup that matched witness descriptions and traced it back to Walker’s home.
When police questioned him, Walker admitted it was his truck and that he was behind the wheel. But his excuse? He claimed he thought he hit a construction sign.
Walker even told officers that he returned to the scene to take a photo of the supposed sign for an insurance claim. But when he saw first responders there, he left again—because he didn’t have a driver’s license.
The Truth Comes Out
Detectives weren’t buying his story. They found no evidence of a sign being hit, and his truck had damage consistent with hitting a person.
Meanwhile, Bradley Jr. was rushed to Children’s Hospital in critical condition. He suffered a fractured skull, brain bleeding, and a badly broken foot that was also degloved—a serious injury where skin is peeled away from the muscle underneath.
The Family’s Pain
Bradley Jr.’s parents, Bradley Daniels Sr. and Kelisha Gichuki, are devastated. They’ve been by their son’s bedside, crying, praying, and hoping for his recovery.
They don’t understand how someone could hit a child and not stop.
“As soon as you hit something, I feel like it’s just natural instinct,” said Bradley Sr. “As an adult, you would get out and check your vehicle anyways.”
“You should’ve stopped,” added Gichuki. “You should’ve been paying attention to the road.”
Justice and What’s Next
Walker has been arrested and charged with collision involving serious bodily injury. His bond has been set at $25,000.
Bradley Sr. says they feel a bit of relief knowing that the driver has been caught.
“If he would’ve done the right thing and stopped, he probably wouldn’t even be in jail,” he said.
Police haven’t said why Walker didn’t have a valid driver’s license, but one thing is clear—his decision to flee has made things far worse for everyone involved.
