A truck hit the cars of a North Carolina worship leader and his pregnant wife, killing their 2-year-old son, as they were returning from a family member's wedding Saturday, according to highway patrol officials.
The family was in separate cars returning from his sister’s wedding in the North Carolina coast.
The box truck hit the wife’s SUV while she was stopped at a traffic light. The toddler was in the back seat in a car seat, troopers said. The wife’s car then hit her husband’s. Troopers said his car ran off the road on the left side and overturned before coming to rest in the median. The fourth vehicle, which the child’s grandparents were driving, was also struck.
The family attends Forest Hill Church in the Ballantyne area.
The wife, who was 37 weeks pregnant, was rushed to New Hanover Regional Medical Center and underwent a cesarean section. The baby is currently on life support. As of Sunday afternoon, hospital officials said the wife is in good condition.
The worship leader and grandparents suffered minor injuries.
Channel 9 spoke with Forest Hill Pastor David Chadwick Sunday afternoon. He said doctors are hopeful about the baby's recovery; she or he grabbed onto the finger of grandparents while in the hospital.
The driver of the box truck was charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle. Troopers will meet with the district attorney's office when their investigation is complete to determine if additional charges will be filed.
Troopers said that the road was blocked for about four hours.
