Hudson Meek, a young actor celebrated as the younger version of Ansel Elgort’s character in the 2017 hit film ‘Baby Driver’ and his voice work in the preschool series Badanamu Stories, has died after falling from a moving vehicle.

According to a statement from the Jefferson County coroner’s office, the 16-year-old fell from a moving vehicle in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, on December 19.

He sustained severe blunt force injuries and was rushed to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital.

Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries two days later.

The Vestavia Hills Police Department is investigating the incident, though no official comments have been made.

“Our hearts are broken to share that Hudson Meek went home to be with Jesus tonight,” his family announced on Instagram, describing his passing as a “sudden and tragic loss.”

In his official obituary, Meek’s family highlighted his achievements and shared that he was an organ donor, adding, “He will continue to help others for years to come.”

Meanwhile, recall that beyond his acting career, Meek appeared in notable productions such as Legacies, Genius on Hulu, and NBC’s Found.

His family shared that he “absolutely loved spending time on set and learning the names and stories of every member of the cast and crew.”

An Alabama native and sophomore at Vestavia Hills High School, Meek was an active participant in the school’s football team, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the honour choir.

His adventurous spirit extended to water sports, outdoor activities, and traveling, having visited all 50 U.S. states and aiming to explore all seven continents.

“Hudson was reflective and thoughtful, however, he was tenacious when he set his mind to something,” his obituary noted.

Among his achievements was becoming a certified open-water scuba diver at 13.

He also cherished time with friends, loved watching sports, and was a devoted fan of the Auburn Tigers.

“Hudson’s personality was one of a kind,” his family wrote.

“He was confident, convicted in his beliefs, spontaneous, and quick-witted. Hudson thrived in settings that allowed him to meet and serve new people.”

He is survived by his parents, Derek Firth Meek and Lani Wells Meek, his brother Tucker Firth Meek, his grandmothers, and numerous extended family members.

A soldier from the 3rd Division of the Nigerian Army, Rukuba Barracks in Jos,Plateau State 1has reportedly stabbed a tricycle operator, Abdullahi Muhammad, leading to his death.

The Chairman, Gan Allah Fulani Development Association (GAFDAN), Garba Abdullahi, disclosed the incident to journalists in Jos.

According to Abdullahi, the victim, a 26-year-old herder and tricycle rider, was attacked at Gebu-Bassa, near the barracks’ gate, and described the act as unjustifiable and called on the division’s leadership to ensure justice is served.

Providing details, the GAFDAN chairman explained that the incident happened around 7:00 PM. The deceased had stopped to purchase an item near the barracks’ gate.

He stated, “After the deceased bought what he intended to buy, he entered his tricycle, and while reversing, he mistakenly stepped on the soldier’s leg. Realising what had happened, he got out of the tricycle and apologised, but despite this, the soldier, who was in mufti, slapped him, and an altercation ensued.

“Before long, the soldier pulled out his jackknife and stabbed the deceased in the chest. After being taken to the clinic in the barracks, he was confirmed dead. The soldier was immediately arrested by his colleagues, who initially thought he was a civilian but later discovered he was a soldier.”

The deceased’s father, Alhaji Muhammad, appealed to the Nigerian Army leadership to ensure justice is done for his son.

The spokesman of the 3rd Division, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, confirmed the occurrence.

Danja further commented on the incident, saying:

“The sad incident occurred following an altercation between the deceased and a soldier from one of our battalions. Preliminary reports indicate that the incident escalated, resulting in Mr. Abdullahi sustaining injuries from a knife.

“Despite all efforts through our medical facilities, he succumbed to the injuries, and our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time. In response to this tragic incident, Headquarters 3 Division has arrested the soldier involved and ordered an investigation to unravel the root cause of the incident. We understand the gravity of this matter and assure the general public that we are committed to transparency and accountability.

“Should the investigation find any wrongdoing on the part of the soldier, he will face disciplinary action in accordance with the extant laws governing the conduct of personnel within the armed forces. The Headquarters 3 Division remains resolute in our duty to uphold the law and ensure that justice is served. We encourage the public to remain calm as we carry out this investigation.”

The harrowing last words of the pilot of the Azerbaijan Airlines flight that tragically crashed on December 25, claiming 38 lives, have been revealed.

Evidence suggests that the Embraer E190AR jet may have been mistakenly targeted by a Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile launched from the Naursky district in Chechnya, Russia. The aircraft, initially presumed to have struck a flock of birds, was likely hit by Russian air defenses, mistaking it for a Ukrainian drone.

The damaged plane’s rear section, found intact at the crash site near Aktau in Kazakhstan, bore shrapnel damage consistent with a missile strike. Survivors also reported hearing an explosion outside the aircraft.

Sequence of Events

The flight, carrying 67 passengers and crew, was en route to Grozny, Chechnya, when Grozny airport was suddenly closed, forcing the pilots to seek alternative landing options. Partial transcripts of communications between the pilots and air traffic control detail a catastrophic sequence of events:

• 8:12 a.m.: The crew reported “both GPS lost” and requested vectoring back to Baku.
• 8:16 a.m.: The pilot reported a “bird strike in the cockpit” and control failure.
• 8:17 a.m.: The crew indicated a change of course to Mineralnye Vody airport in Russia but stated, “I can’t execute, control is lost.”
• 8:19 a.m.: The pilot reported high cabin pressure and stated, “My plane is losing control.”
• 8:22 a.m.: The crew noted hydraulic system failure. Despite this, they denied declaring an emergency, stating the aircraft was “in order.”

The aircraft disappeared from radar shortly after, reappearing near Aktau before crashing during a final attempt to land.

Investigation and Allegations

Reports from the Russian Telegram channel VChK-OGPU, which has ties to security services, suggest air defense units loyal to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov may have mistakenly fired at the plane. The channel claims a missile strike occurred about 18 kilometers from Grozny at an altitude of 2,400 meters.

Kazakhstan, where the plane crashed, has refused Russian and Azerbaijani participation in the investigation. Kazakh officials stated, “We will handle all facts, black box data, and evidence independently.”

Conflicting Narratives

Some Russian sources have attempted to blame the crash on a collision with a Ukrainian drone. However, investigative journalists from the Volya Telegram channel have dismissed this theory, stating that drones typically explode upon impact and do not cause shrapnel damage consistent with that found on the Embraer jet.

Volya reported that during the plane’s final descent, Grozny airport was closed due to suspected drone activity. In response, Pantsir-S1 missile systems reportedly began indiscriminately targeting aerial objects, including the passenger jet.

Aftermath

A Russian Emergencies Ministry aircraft has transported nine injured survivors, including a child, to Moscow for treatment. The crash left 29 survivors in total.

Ramzan Kadyrov has remained silent on the incident, but his nephew, Khamzat Kadyrov, Secretary of the Chechen Security Council, posted a video on social media showing a drone being shot down.

As investigations continue, many questions remain unanswered, with evidence pointing toward a preventable tragedy caused by a critical failure in judgment and coordination.