Two parents in North Carolina are facing charges, including involuntary manslaughter and felony child neglect, after their 7-year-old son was struck and killed by an SUV while attempting to cross a street unsupervised on Tuesday, May 27.
Jessica Ivey, 30, and Samuele Jenkins, 31, were arrested on Thursday, May 29, and are currently being held on a $1.5 million bond each, according to Gaston County Sheriff’s Office public records.
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Gastonia Police responded to reports of a pedestrian-involved vehicular crash on West Hudson Boulevard just before 6 p.m. local time. Upon arrival, officers discovered that a 7-year-old boy, accompanied by his 10-year-old brother, was attempting to cross the street in an area without a designated crosswalk when he was hit by an SUV driven by a 76-year-old woman.
The child was initially transported to a local hospital before being transferred to Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, where he died from his injuries around 10 p.m.
Authorities told WBTV, “In these types of incidents, adults must be held accountable for their responsibilities to ensure their children are in a safe environment.”
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As of now, the driver of the SUV has not been charged in connection with the incident, WCNC reports.
Ivey and Jenkins were scheduled for their initial court appearance on Friday, May 30, according to public records.
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