CINCINNATI -- It's been more than a month since Brianna Smith learned her son was hurt in a car crash.
Ariyonte Grace-Holloway, known as "Tay-Tay" to his family, went to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in critical condition Aug. 1. He died there Sunday.
He was 10 years old.
Ariyonte Grace-Holloway (Photo provided)
"I can't even explain it," Smith said. "It's been real tough. It's been tough... I was trying to hold on for as long as I can."
The boy was riding with his father, Adriel Holloway, when they slammed into a tree near Lincoln Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
According to both a witness and police, Holloway tried to walk away from the wreck, abandoning his son with life-threatening injuries. At the time, police said Holloway was likely both impaired and driving too fast.
"I don't say I hate people," Smith said, "but I dislike him a lot for that."
Smith, along with Tay-Tay's grandmother and stepfather, looked through family photos Monday. He was a smart, handsome and helpful child, they said.
"He was always energetic," Smith said. "He always kept that smile. He loved his brothers and sisters."
In photos, Tay-Tay always posed with his head turned and little muscles flexed, grandmother Cheryl Holloway said.
"The memories will keep us going, because he was so bright -- even though we only had 10 years," she said. "He was a joy. Tay is unexplainable."
