Vehicle Runs off Roadway, Pedestrians Hit, Toddler Killed


On January 27, 2013 around 1:15 PM officers with the Henderson Police Department responded to the 600 Block of East Montgomery Street, Henderson in reference to a motor vehicle collision involving two pedestrians. Upon arrival, officers found a five year-old male and the child’s father, Richard Thomas Stokes, 22, of Henderson with extensive injuries from where the vehicle collided with them. From the investigation, it appears that the child and his father were walking west on East Montgomery Street when a 1998 GMC truck driven east on East Montgomery Street by Vincent Gregory, 47, of 270 Sparrow Lane, Henderson drove left of the roadway. The vehicle collide with a telephone pole, drove over the curve, and collided with the father and son before coming to rest in a tree. Driver and pedestrians were transported to an area hospital. Child was pronounced dead at the hospital. 

The Henderson Police Department received assistance from the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

Alcohol is suspected as being a contributing factor and the investigation is ongoing.

Vincent Gregory, 47, was arrested and charged with felony death by motor vehicle, assault inflicting serious injury by a motor vehicle, driving while impaired, and driving while license revoked. He received a $ 1,001,000 secured bond pending an initial appearance in Vance County District Court on January 28, 2012. He was placed in the Vance County Jail.