AUSTIN — A 34-year-old Austin man has been charged with child endangerment for an April 15 traffic accident after the van he was towing, which his 7-year-old daughter was steering, reportedly struck a tree.

Tobius August Wilking was charged with gross misdemeanor child endangerment on April 16 and made his first court appearance on Thursday. He has another appearance set for May 30.

Officers went to the 12th Avenue and Fourth Street Northwest on April 15 after a report of an accident.

According to the court complaint, Wilking had his daughter steer a van while he towed it with a truck. However, the girl veered toward the curb and struck a tree. Witnesses say they saw the girl in the van, and added the truck backed up and tried to tow the van again, which struck the tree a second time.