A quiet North Carolina neighborhood was shattered by a horrific crash that left a young boy with life-altering injuries—and police say the driver was heavily impaired.
Theodore Gause, 51, is facing a string of serious charges after allegedly plowing into a 9-year-old boy who was sitting on his bike in his own driveway in New Hanover County on April 20.
According to the Wilmington Police Department, Gause crossed the centerline while driving along South 15th Street and veered off the road, crashing directly into the child. Investigators say the impact was so violent that both the car and the boy were thrown into a retaining wall.
The injuries were catastrophic.
Authorities say the crash severed the child’s leg and left him with multiple serious injuries. He was rushed to Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center, where he remains under medical care.
Prosecutors allege Gause had been using cocaine, opiates, and benzodiazepines before getting behind the wheel.
Witnesses say the chaos didn’t end with the crash. After hitting the boy, Gause allegedly got out of his vehicle and tried to flee the scene on foot. He was quickly spotted and taken into custody.
According to investigators, Gause initially claimed he thought he had hit a curb. But when he was told it was a child, prosecutors say he attempted to run off again.
The charges against him are severe, including felony serious injury by vehicle, felony hit-and-run, driving while impaired, and driving with a revoked license.
Court records show Gause has an extensive criminal history described as “assaultive in nature.” He had only recently been released from prison in May 2025, and his parole ended just weeks before the crash.
An arrest warrant states that Gause “should have known” he was involved in a serious collision that caused devastating injuries.
He is currently being held on a staggering $31 million bond and is scheduled to appear in court on May 7.