A West Virginia father is facing a long list of criminal charges after authorities say he drove under the influence, fell asleep behind the wheel and crashed into a parked construction vehicle, killing his two young sons.
James Edward Neal Jr., 34, has been charged with two counts of child neglect resulting in death in the deaths of his sons, 7-year-old James Edward Neal III and 13-year-old Zayden Andrew Hurley.
He also faces two counts of DUI with deliberate disregard for the safety of others causing death, DUI causing serious bodily injury and child neglect creating a risk of serious bodily injury or death.
Neal is being held at the Central Regional Jail and Correctional Facility on a $1 million bond.
The deadly crash happened Aug. 22 as Neal was driving an SUV with three children inside after a football event.
His two sons were riding with him, along with a 14-year-old boy who was a friend of the family.
Authorities say Neal suddenly slammed into a stationary front-end loader operated by the West Virginia Department of Highways.
State police, firefighters and medics rushed to the scene, but James and Zayden could not be saved.
The 14-year-old passenger was critically injured and rushed to a hospital.
A GoFundMe created for the boy said the impact caused catastrophic internal injuries.
According to the fundraiser, the force of the crash split open his abdominal wall, causing his organs to push forward. He was placed on a ventilator for two days and underwent multiple surgeries.
The fundraiser also said Neal did not have car insurance, leaving the injured boy’s father facing major medical expenses.
Investigators said the crash happened on a straight stretch of road and involved parked Department of Highways equipment.
According to a criminal complaint, officers learned Neal had a history of methamphetamine use.
Field sobriety tests were not performed at the scene because of what authorities described as the emotionally charged nature of the crash and signs that Neal had suffered a head injury.
Neal allegedly later admitted that he had relapsed after nearly five years of sobriety and had been using methamphetamine and marijuana.
He also reportedly told investigators that he fell asleep while driving.
Troopers said Neal appeared disoriented after the crash and was sweating and experiencing body tremors.
Authorities also alleged that after learning his sons had died, Neal made jokes with an acquaintance about cuts on his hands.
Neal was taken to a hospital for treatment and a blood draw.
Authorities say the test came back positive for methamphetamine and THC.
He was later arrested and booked into jail.
The two boys were remembered in a joint obituary as children with “personalities larger than life.”
Their family said James and Zayden shared a love of football and both dreamed of one day playing in the NFL.
They were also remembered as kind, loving and funny.
The crash has now left one family mourning two children while a third boy continues recovering from devastating injuries.
