A Charlotte man has been sentenced to a prison term of 30 years after a reckless driving incident in 2022 on Interstate 77 that resulted in the death of a 7-year-old boy and left the child's father with severe injuries. Jason Palmer, the convicted, was found guilty of reckless homicide and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, said Sixth Judicial Circuit Solicitor Candice Lively.
The calamitous event transpired on July 10, 2022, when Palmer was reportedly driving at a speed close to 100 mph and collided into the Shanks family's vehicle. The crash claimed the life of 7-year-old Max Shanks and caused "permanent" injuries to his father, Corey Shanks, as reported by QC News. While driving recklessly, Palmer struck the back of the family's car without braking, leading to a catastrophic outcome.
Judge Brian Gibbons of the Chester County Circuit Court imposed the maximum sentence available, after a jury convicted Palmer on both charges. According to an account by WBTV, "The father, Corey Shanks, has permanent injuries because of the wreck caused by Palmer when he was driving recklessly on I-77 and ran into the back of the Shanks family going 98 mph. The Sixth Circuit Solicitor’s Office is so grateful to the SCHP, Chester County first responders and everyone who was affected by the tragedy that happened on that day. It truly took a team effort to bring justice to this family." The trial featured testimony spanning five days, culminating in a two-hour jury deliberation.
The impact of the crash resonated beyond the confines of the courtroom, touching the lives of first responders and investigators from the South Carolina Highway Patrol who pieced together the events leading to the tragedy. "Since July 10, 2022, the Shanks family has waited for the defendant Jason Palmer to accept responsibility for his reckless and dangerous driving that led to the death of their 7-year-old son," Lively mentioned, underscoring the prolonged anguish endured by the victims' family, in a statement obtained by QC News. The pursuit of accountability and justice required concerted efforts from various parties involved in the aftermath of the incident.
Max's mother and younger brother, also occupants of the SUV during the crash, have been left to navigate the aftermath of the loss and trauma. The Shanks family was returning from a South Carolina restaurant to their North Carolina home when the fateful collision occurred.
