That one-year-old child who was struck by a vehicle on Monday (Sept. 21st) on Liberty Street in Gastonia is still hospitalized in Charlotte. Police have now released more information about the incident which happened shortly before noon Monday. They say it was the child's father, Jimmy Perry Lee McGary, 19, whose address was listed as Columbia, SC, who backed over the child as he was pulling out of the driveway. McGary was charged with driving while impaired and with no operator’s license and with felony serious injury by vehicle.
Officer A.L. Carpenter said McGary admitted to smoking marijuana an hour before the incident and to taking a medicine that had been prescribed for him to treat seizures.
Police said McGary appeared incoherent and had trouble standing when they questioned him Monday. He was jailed under a $100,000 bond.
The child, Andrew McGary, remains in serious condition at the Levine Children's Hospital (Atrium Health) in Charlotte. He will turn two years old in early October.