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A 2-year-old boy was seriously injured Wednesday night when he was thrown from a van that crashed into a west Charlotte church after being pursued by N.C. Highway Patrol troopers.
The driver of the van was taken into custody and will face charges, troopers say. The driver was identified as David James Sheppard, according to troopers.
The series of events began shortly before 10 p.m., on Old Pineville Road and Tyvola Road, where troopers tried to pull over a white van for expired license tags. Troopers say the driver of the van pulled off, with the Highway Patrol in pursuit.
Authorities say the driver of the van reached speeds of more than 90 mph through west Charlotte. Eventually, the van got onto West Tyvola Road, where troopers say the driver lost control of the vehicle on a curve. The van overturned at least once and crashed into University Memorial Baptist Church, on West Tyvola Road near Richard Street.
Troopers say the child was ejected. He and a female passenger in the van, apparently the young boy’s mother, were injured and taken to Carolinas Medical Center. The young boy has life-threatening injuries, authorities say.
The van’s driver tried to run, according to the Highway Patrol. Troopers eventually used a stun gun to stop the man.
The Highway Patrol says charges are pending in the case.
