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Their kid was killed. Everyone blamed them for it.
The city of Gastonia, NC decided to let a driver who killed a 7 year old by walk free, then charged the his parents for his death, despite the fact that the city admitted the intersection was poorly designed and dangerous over 10 years before Legend was killed by the driver. They have done nothing to fix the design or prevent this tragedy from happening again.
This video is not monetized. Sources linked below. All opinions expressed in this video are my own, and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer. Comments on this video will be moderated more strictly than usual out of respect for the sensitive nature of the subject matter.
0:00 The Story of Legend Jenkins
1:09 National News Coverage of Criminal Charges
2:05 The City Admitted the Intersection Was Dangerous
3:53 Police Statement Regarding the Charges
4:40 The Creation of Hudson Boulevard
7:12 The Source of the Danger is the Cars
9:00 The "Safe" Route vs. the Direct Route
Sources:
NBC, "A 7-year-old's parents were arrested after he was killed by a car. Now they're speaking out from jail." https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/north-carolina-child-killed-car-parents-arrested-manslaughter-charges-rcna211900
New York Times, "They Let Their Children Cross the Street, and Now They’re Felons" - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/06/opinion/children-traffic-death-parents.html
Gastonia Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan, 2014: https://gclmpo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Final-Report.pdf
Legal Analyst: Parents charged after boy dies crossing road: https://youtu.be/xKNa2E5dKx8
Parents charged after Gastonia 7-year-old killed crossing road: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76Rze3XACzk
'They need mercy': Parents take plea deal after 7-year-old's death: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--WR6xcfADM
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By The city of Gastonia, NC decided to let a driver who killed a 7 year old by walk free, then charged the his parents for his death, despite the fact that the city admitted the intersection was poorly designed and dangerous over 10 years before Legend was killed by the driver. They have done nothing to fix the design or prevent this tragedy from happening again.
This video is not monetized. Sources linked below. All opinions expressed in this video are my own, and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer. Comments on this video will be moderated more strictly than usual out of respect for the sensitive nature of the subject matter.
0:00 The Story of Legend Jenkins
1:09 National News Coverage of Criminal Charges
2:05 The City Admitted the Intersection Was Dangerous
3:53 Police Statement Regarding the Charges
4:40 The Creation of Hudson Boulevard
7:12 The Source of the Danger is the Cars
9:00 The "Safe" Route vs. the Direct Route
Sources:
NBC, "A 7-year-old's parents were arrested after he was killed by a car. Now they're speaking out from jail." https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/north-carolina-child-killed-car-parents-arrested-manslaughter-charges-rcna211900
New York Times, "They Let Their Children Cross the Street, and Now They’re Felons" - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/06/opinion/children-traffic-death-parents.html
Gastonia Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan, 2014: https://gclmpo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Final-Report.pdf
Legal Analyst: Parents charged after boy dies crossing road: https://youtu.be/xKNa2E5dKx8
Parents charged after Gastonia 7-year-old killed crossing road: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76Rze3XACzk
'They need mercy': Parents take plea deal after 7-year-old's death: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--WR6xcfADM