Police identify suspect accused of crashing into day care van during chase

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Two north Charlotte schools were placed on brief lockdown Thursday morning as police searched for a man who they said crashed into a day care van while fleeing from troopers with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

NHSHP officials identified the man as 19-year-old Kyheem Henton.

Officials with the Department of Motor Vehicles said the chase started after an inspector saw Henton driving dangerously while on Interstate 485 during his morning commute.

DMV officials said the inspector chased Henton for 10 miles because he was swerving in and out of traffic at speeds of up to 90 mph.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers said they caught up to Henton after he crashed into a day care van with five children on board, hit several other cars and then tried to run.

No injuries were reported, authorities said.

Highland Creek Elementary School and Ridge Road Middle School were both placed on brief lockdown due to the incident, officials said.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials said the lockdown at Highland Creek Elementary started at 7:40 a.m. and lasted for about 10 minutes.

Parents of students told Channel 9 that they were unsure why a DMV inspector was the one chasing the man.

"To me, that's like a civilian or a normal person chasing someone around," parent Cedric Witherspoon said.

Channel 9 passed those concerns along to the DMV officials, who said that inspectors are sworn law enforcement officers equipped with unmarked vehicles that have lights and sirens. Officials added that inspectors have the power to arrest someone if they see them threatening the public.

Channel 9 is asking officials what charges Henton will face.

Cox Media Group