Criminal charges filed in serious car accident in South Carolina

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A tragic accident occurred on July 6 that involved two vehicles — one of which was a patrol car. In the months since the car accident, the South Carolina Highway Patrol conducted its investigation and determined that the woman in the other vehicle was driving under the influence at the time. She now faces charges of felony DUI.

The Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team with the South Carolina Highway Patrol issued its final report regarding the crash before the charges were filed. The report indicates that the officer was on his way to provide backup to another officer involved in an altercation at a nightclub. His lights and sirens were activated, and he was reportedly driving at 108 mph at the time of the wreck.

However, that is not what caused the accident. The woman now facing charges is considered to be at fault because, despite the officer’s lights and sirens, she made a left turn directly into the path of the patrol car. The officer’s car caught fire after the impact.

The officer managed to escape the flaming wreckage, but not without suffering serious injuries for which he was still being treated at last report. The allegedly impaired woman was not alone in her vehicle. Her 29-year-old passenger died because of the injuries she suffered in the accident.

The officer is more than likely receiving workers’ compensation benefits in connection with this car accident, but retains the right to file a personal injury claim against the car’s driver. In addition, the family of the deceased passenger may file a wrongful death claim. If the parties are able to prove that the woman was negligent, the court may award monetary damages that could relieve the financial burdens incurred by the victims.

Source: carolinalive.com, “Woman charged with Felony DUI in wreck that severely injured Dillon officer“, Tonya Brown, Dec. 10, 2014

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