Tragic Incident: Child Dies After Allegedly Hanging From Van Under Youth Pastor’s Watch, Say Police

An Ohio youth pastor faces felony charges including vehicular homicide after one of the children in the congregation died after he was thrown from a church van.

Rushon Patterson II, 26, is the youth pastor at the Alive Now Church in Canton, according to reporting by local CBS affiliate WOIO. On Sept. 6, Patterson was driving a van owned by the church when he allegedly allowed several teenagers to ride on the side of the van. According to a police report obtained by WOIO, most of the teens jumped off the van when they spotted a pothole in the road.

One boy, however, never saw the pothole. When Patterson drove over it, the boy was reportedly thrown from the van and hit his head.

Another police report stated that the boy was “ejected” from the van when it hit the pothole, and when his head hit the street, the injury ultimately resulted in his death.

Patterson now faces one count of vehicular homicide and one count of endangering children. He appeared in court on Monday, and his bail was set at $1 million cash. A judge stated in court that bond would be revisited during a status conference on Wednesday. Patterson is currently in custody at the Stark County Jail.

WOIO confirmed that the Ford van was owned by the Alive Now Church. The station also confirmed with the church that Patterson was a youth pastor there and that the alleged victim was part of the church congregation. The Alive Now Church did not provide any further comment.