2 N.C. Boys Hurt in Go-Kart, Van Collision, Man Arrested

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. --

Eyewitness News was there when Kannapolis police arrested a 60-year-old man Wednesday night. The suspect is accused of crashing into two boys on a go-kart and taking off.

Kyle Graham,12, is in fair condition at Carolinas Medical Center and 12-year-old Weston Edwards was in critical late Wednesday.

"I thought, ‘We've got two dead boys laying in the street,' and you don't want to think about that," said Graham's grandfather, Gary Dunwell. “I blame myself for this.”

Dunwell saw the impact of the crash from his front window and ran outside to find both boys unconscious.

Kannapolis police said the boys were riding the go-kart on Debbie Street, where Graham lives, when a silver Ford minivan struck the go-kart near the middle of the road and then kept going.

Chris Mullis was on the scene helping almost immediately. He was driving through the neighborhood and happened to turn his head and see the boys in the road, along with the upturned go-kart.

"I thought they were dead,” he said. “They weren't moving at all. I went over and tried to find a pulse and make sure they were breathing.”

Mullis said he ran to help one boy and his mother jumped from the car to help the other.

Graham was face down on the curb, about 30 feet from the crash scene, Mullis said. Edwards was still tangled up in the go-kart, not moving.

Neighbors said they often saw the boys riding the go-kart up and down the street, and also on a dirt path that runs behind several houses.

"They ride on it, not every day, but during the week, maybe twice," said neighbor Clifford White.

White said he planned to buy a go-kart for his grandson, who turns 9 this weekend. Now, he's not so sure.

"We have a place for him to ride, off the road where it's safe," he said. "We'll keep an eye on him."

Kannapolis Police Sgt. Terry Spry said officers found the 60-year-old suspect during a neighborhood canvas Wednesday afternoon.

The minivan was on Kingston Drive, less than a mile from the crash scene.

No word on what charges the suspect faces. Kannapolis police said it is illegal to ride go-karts on city streets. It's not known if the boy's parents will face any charges until the case goes before the district attorney.

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