Scotland County Lt. Detective C.L. Wilson said the driver was the only person with the child when first responders arrived.
Investigators determined the boy had walked about 528 yards, which is roughly five football fields, before he was struck by the truck.
"This is a pretty traumatic thing to see. I'm a father. I'm a grandfather. So, I could not imagine what these people had to witness. What these workers and these first responders had to witness," Wilson said.
Wilson said dense fog covered the area at the time of the collision, making visibility extremely poor.
"Now, in regards to there's a lot of questions about the box truck and the driver's condition. When I received the call last night on the way to the call, visibility was very, very, low last night, we had a lot of fog in the area. We were able to, view some footage, of the accident through some cameras in the area. The state highway patrol, North Carolina State Highway Patrol was actually investigating the motor vehicle incident. They're investigating that part. We came in to assist in trying to find the guardians of this child," said Wilson.
While the North Carolina State Highway Patrol investigated the collision, Scotland County deputies immediately began searching for the child's parents or guardian.
Wilson said deputies canvassed the area and located an open door at a residence about 500 yards from the crash scene.
"We started canvasing the area. While canvasing the area. We noticed an open door at a residence within about 500 yards of the actual accident scene. Deputies were able to, do a safety check of that residence because no one came to the door immediately. They made the entry, and they were able to speak with a male subject inside the residence who, had some cognitive issues, had some issues with being able to communicate. Had some issues with being able to hear. We were actually able to, give some identifying, remarks as to this child who he in turn, told us who the parents of this child were. We made contact with the male parent. He came to the house. He was not at home at the time. He came to the house. We began talking to him. As to the situation as to why this child was away from the home. And he gave us a statement. And based on that statement, we concluded, based on the elements with the North Carolina General Statutes, we were able to charge this male person with, felony, negligent child abuse with inflicting serious injury."
The child was taken to Scotland Memorial Hospital before being transferred to a pediatric trauma center.
Investigators said the boy is in stable condition, but has suffered major internal injuries.
Jackson is being held in the Scotland County Detention Center under a $50,000 bond.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is investigating the collision. The Scotland County Sheriff's Office is investigating the child abuse case, and the Scotland County Department of Social Services is also involved in the ongoing investigation.
UPDATE -
Bond for Jackson has been increased to $1 million by a judge this afternoon at Scotland County District Court.
A Scotland County father has been charged with felony child abuse after his 4-year-old son was struck by a box truck early Wednesday morning in the Laurel Hill area, according to the Scotland County Sheriff's Office.
Lt. Detective C.L. Wilson said deputies responded around 3:37 a.m. to Morgan Street after receiving reports that a child had been hit by a vehicle.
He added the driver was the only person with the child at the scene when emergency crews arrived.
The child was taken to Scotland Memorial Hospital before being transferred to a pediatric trauma center.
Wilson said the boy is in stable condition, but has suffered major internal injuries.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is investigating the collision.
While troopers investigated the crash, Scotland County deputies began trying to find the child's parents.
Officers later made contact with the child's father, Christopher Ira Jackson, 37, who was out of the county at the time of the incident.
Wilson said Jackson returned after learning his son had been struck.
Following the investigation, Jackson was charged with felony child abuse.
He is being held at the Scotland County Detention Center on a $50,000 bond.
The investigation remains ongoing.
The Scotland County Department of Social Services is also involved in the case.