Pender County ,NC : Toddler killed and his pregnant mother seriously injured after multiple-car wreck at the intersection of Highway 17 on Saturday ,May 23 2015

A toddler was killed and his pregnant mother was injured in a crash on Highway 17 in Pender County Saturday afternoon.

The 911 call came in just after noon about a multiple-car wreck at the intersection of Highway 17 and Sloop Point Loop Road.

According to Trooper Hendrickson with North Carolina State Highway Patrol, a commercial box truck was traveling southbound on Highway 17. As the truck approached stopped traffic at Sloop Point Loop Road, the driver failed to reduce speed resulting in a chain-reaction crash involving the truck and three other vehicles.

Crews from the Pender County Sheriff's Office, Pender EMS and Fire and State Highway Patrol responded to the scene that closed the southbound lanes of Highway 17.

The Jaws of Life were used to remove victims from the first vehicle hit by the truck, which contained the toddler and his mother and father.

According to WBTV, Gentry and Hadley Eddings were taken to New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Their son, Dobbs, was killed in the crash.

Hadley, who was eight months pregnant, gave birth to her new son Reed via Caesarian section. There is no word on her or her husband's condition.

WBTV says Gentry is a worship leader at Forest Hill Church in Charlotte, whose pastor says the newborn is showing signs of life but is still in intensive care.

A gofundme page has been set up to help the family, and funding has reached over $46,000 as of Monday at 10:30 a.m.

The crash is still under investigation by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Mobile users can view pictures of the crash here.

Source :
Toddler, family identified in deadly Highway 17 crash