A West Virginia father is facing multiple criminal charges after a crash in Clay County killed his two young sons and seriously injured another child who was riding in the vehicle.
James Edward Neal Jr., 34, has been charged with two counts of child neglect resulting in death in connection with the deaths of his sons, 7-year-old James Edward Neal III and 13-year-old Zayden Andrew Hurley.
The crash happened Aug. 22 as Neal was driving an SUV with the two boys and a 14-year-old friend of the children. The group was reportedly returning from a football event when the SUV struck a parked front-end loader belonging to the West Virginia Department of Highways.
Emergency crews responding to the scene found both boys dead.
The third child survived but suffered severe injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Information released about his condition said he required extensive medical care, including multiple surgeries and a period on a ventilator.
According to the criminal complaint, the highway equipment was stationary on a straight section of road when the SUV struck it. Investigators also said Neal appeared disoriented after the collision and displayed sweating and tremors.
Neal reportedly told investigators that he had fallen asleep while driving. Authorities also said he acknowledged using methamphetamine and marijuana after previously maintaining nearly five years of sobriety.
Because Neal had suffered head trauma and the scene was emotionally charged, investigators did not conduct field sobriety tests at the crash site. He was later taken to a hospital, where his blood was drawn. Authorities said testing detected methamphetamine and THC.
The investigation also included statements about Neal’s behavior after he learned that his two sons had died. According to the criminal complaint, he allegedly made jokes to an acquaintance about cuts on his hands.
In addition to the two child-neglect charges, Neal 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.
He is being held at the Central Regional Jail and Correctional Facility on $1 million bond.
The deaths have also brought attention to the lives of the two brothers. Their joint obituary described James and Zayden as boys with larger-than-life personalities who were kind, loving and funny.
The brothers shared a passion for football and dreamed of one day playing in the NFL.
The criminal case remains pending, and the allegations against Neal have not been proven in court.
