Charlotte Pastor and Father of Sons Killed in Crash Offers Forgiveness

8363361_GA Charlotte pastor whose two sons were killed in a wreck has said he forgives the man who pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter Wednesday in the deaths.

Matthew Deans, 28, pleaded guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of Reed and Dobbs Eddings. He was indicted on the charges in Pender County by a grand jury on Monday.

Gentry Eddings, the father of the boys and a pastor in Charlotte, was in the court room and told Deans he sincerely forgives him and that his sons would want to see Deans in heaven. Eddings also said he that he wants Deans to improve his life.

The wreck occurred in Pender County on U.S. 17, close to Wilmington, in late May.

Eddings and his wife were in the crash and survived. Their son Dobbs, 2, was instantly killed in the wreck. Eddings’s wife had been eight months pregnant and was rushed to the hospital were she gave emergency birth to Reed, their second son. Reed died three days later in the hospital.

Deans had been driving a box truck in which he failed to stop in enough time while approaching stopped traffic. The crash caused a chain reaction.

Deans pleaded guilty to his charges in Pender County Superior Court Wednesday morning and was sentenced to prison for between one and three years. After release, he will be on probation for three years.

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