Man charged following fatal Gaston County wreck

A 23-year-old man has been charged in connection with a fatal wreck in Gaston County that left an 11-year-old boy dead.

Three other people also were injured in the Wednesday evening wreck, according to officials.

The crash happened just after 6 p.m. on Pinhook Loop Road near Cabin Street. Police said a Ford Explorer was traveling at high speed when it ran off the road.

The vehicle hit a pole on the passenger side and landed on its roof. Investigators said no one in the SUV was wearing a seat belt.

The 11-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. Three other passengers, only identified as females, were ejected from the vehicle and seriously injured.

The driver of the SUV, 23-year-old Jason Eugene Pruitt, was arrested and charged with felony involuntary manslaughter, misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, two counts of child abuse, careless and reckless driving, driving without a license and not wearing a seat belt.

The names of the boy and the others injured have not been released.

This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 6:14 AM with the headline "Man charged following fatal Gaston County wreck."