Sep 12, 2013 | DUI & DWI, Felony DUI, Uncategorized
A man and a woman, who were struck by an alleged drunk driver, have been identified by the pastor of a South Carolina church. Both worked at the South Carolina Student
Loan Office in Columbia. Further, the man was a chaplain’s assistant at Fort Jackson for three years. Both of the victims were driving motorcycles at the time.
The drunk driver was cruising in a 2008 Saturn south on U.S. 21 at around 7 p.m., when the vehicle crossed the center line and struck the two oncoming bikes. The man’s bond was set for just over $30,000, which was so high because he has prior charges and was driving without a license. The prior was a marijuana possession and disorderly conduct.
If you or someone close to you has been charged with DUI in South Carolina, contact the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP for a consultation. You can reach our Baxter Village office located in Fort Mill, South Carolina at 803-548-4444, or toll-free at 877-374-5999.
Sep 11, 2013 | Car Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized
In the beginning of May, a motorcyclist was seriously injured when he was struck by a vehicle in Rock Hill, then left the man injured and ran after colliding with him.
Gathering from the police reports, the accident took place a little after 9:00 p.m., at the intersection of Mount Gallant and Celanese Road.
The victim was a 23-yer-old Rock Hill resident, and was struck by a sedan being driven by a 31-year-old from Charlotte. The circumstances of the collision are not completely clear, but we do know that the sedan hit the motorcyclist, and he and his 25-year-old passenger sped away.
The South Carolina Troopers later found what they believe to be the car of the hit-and-run accident hidden behind a nearby house in Rock hill.
The police were able to track down the driver of the vehicle for investigation. The passenger then voluntarily went to the police on his own accord for questioning about the incident.
Both men were both charged with the hit-and-run, and leaving the scene of an accident. The driver was additionally charged with driving with a suspended license and driving without insurance.
The bond for each of the defendants was $200,000, separately.
The motorcyclist was attended to by the medics on the scene, and then rushed to the hospital via helicopter, and is currently in critical condition.
If you, or someone you know has been injured in a serious motorcycle accident, contact the law offices of Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower, LLP toll-free at 877-374-5999 for more information on your options.
Sep 9, 2013 | Criminal Defense, Drug Crimes and Controlled Substances Defense, DUI & DWI, General, Uncategorized
Fort Mill and Charlotte Mecklenburg’s Police Departments have banned together to arrest a North Carolina homeless man living in the woods near the ever-popular Carowinds.
Carowinds is unique as far as jurisdictional issues goes, because it lays right on the boarder of North and South Carolina, with half of the park in one state, and the other half in the other.
According to the arresting deputies, the homeless man was seen drunk in public while he was attempting to panhandle at a convenience store. When the officers requested him to cease and desist, he refused to do so, allowing the officers to arrest him.
The officers were alerted of this mischief late Wednesday night, when a clerk at a convenience store called in and said the homeless man was begging for money on Carowinds Blvd, even at the entrance into the park.
By the time the officers arrived, the 52-year-old man was sitting on a stack of empty beer bottles. He told the police that he had never been asked to leave, and denied ever carrying a sign.
When the defendant stood to hit feet, he could not remain stable without holding onto the top of the officer’s patrol car.
The defendant has been charged with public intoxication, public disorderly conduct, as well as trespassing. He is currently being held at the York County jail with a minimum bond of $732.50.
If you, or someone you know has been charged with any sort of drinking offense, whether it be public intoxication or a DUI, contact the experienced attorneys at Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower, LLP toll-free at 877-374-5999. Everyone deserves a proper defense. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.
Sep 6, 2013 | Boating Accidents, Criminal Defense, General, Uncategorized
According to the Fort Mill Police Department, two men went missing from the radar late Thursday night.
Rescue Crews then told the family members of one, that they found his body on Lake Haigler, off of U.S. 21. Apparently the two men were elderly, both in their late 60’s, and frequently went fishing together at the small Fort Mill Lake. They were known in the community as life-long best friends; after Thursday night, no one heard from either one again.
The rescue crews found the one body when they were called on the scene after an emergency crew spotted the overturned boat earlier this morning, around 2:00 a.m. When the emergency crews arrived, they also stated they found an empty car parked nearby.
The daughter of the one of the duo stated that she and her father ” may not have seen each other too often, but if she needed him, he was always there for her and her family.” Both families are in saddened terribly by this incident, which is still under pending investigation.
All that is currently know is that one body is found, and there was an overturned boat and an empty car nearby. More details will be released as further information is discovered.
What is odd is that the police describe this Haigler Lake as more of a pond near the heavily populated Ann Springs Close Greenway. At this point in time, there is no report of which man’s body was found.
The York County Sheriff’s office has it’s essential dive team assembled in searching for the second man with the assistance of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
Stories such as this sadden anyone at the core, whether you are personally involved or not. You should not have to go at this alone. Talk to your local attorney as more information if discovered, and if foul play is, then contact an attorney as soon as possible. If a crime has been committed, such as wrongful death, contact the law offices of Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower toll-free at 877-374-5999 for a free consultation on your options.
Sep 4, 2013 | Criminal Defense, DUI & DWI, Uncategorized
South Carolina, along with essentially every other state in the nation, has adopted what is referred to as the ” implied consent” laws.
In laymen’s terms, ” implied consent” laws simply means that when you apply for a state driver’s license, you have consented to allowing police officers to give you a chemical blood test in the event that you are pulled over under the suspicion of drunk driving.
What this means is that to enjoy your right of driving and using the state’s thoroughfares in doing so, you have also agreed that you can and will be administered a chemical analysis test if the officer believes you have been drinking or using drugs while operating your vehicle.
These test are allowed the be administered even if the officer does not have a search warrant on him. It has been held under both federal and state law that the odor of alcohol or suspicious driving for a certain distances gives the officer enough of what is called “reasonable suspicion,” to administer the test without the warrant.
Although this may seem intrusive, if the driver refuses to blow into the breathalyzer, then the state has held the officer is then entitled to bring the defendant to an authorized location and administer the chemical analysis blood test to determine the defendants Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) at the time of the arrest.
In South Carolina, the allotted BAC level permitted to drive is .08. Anything over that, and sometimes even a little under that, will affect your driving privileges in the state you reside.
If you or someone close to you has been charged with a DUI, or alcohol related crime in South Carolina, make sure that you are covering every possible base. The S.C.G.S. can be a protection measure for many people; it ensures that the scientific tests, which are the most reliable evidence in a DUI case, must be presented through a chemical analyst. At Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP., we will go through each minute detail to ensure that your rights have not been violated. Contact us toll-free at 877-374-5999 for more information on your options.
Aug 30, 2013 | Car Accidents, Uncategorized, Wrongful Death
A 62-year-old grandfather was declared dead on Wednesday night after a brutal single-car accident that took his life.
It was around 6:30 p.m., when the grandfather was driving his 2001 Mercury Sable westbound on Constitution Blvd in Rock Hill, when he crossed over the double yellow line.
He was subsequently in the eastbound lanes in the wrong side of the road, made it all the way across without hitting any other vehicle and unfortunately, slammed into a tree.
His 9 year-old-granddaughter was in the backseat of the car, wearing her set-belt but still suffered some minor injuries. She and her deceased grandfather were rushed to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, where the man was pronounced dead, and the little girl is expected to make a full recovery.
The accident is still currently under investigation however, and the York County Coroner has not officially released the exact cause of death.
Losing a love one is a terrible tragedy to handle. Furthermore, it is not one that should be handled alone. Contact the law offices of Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower, LLP toll-free at 877-377-5999 and speak to one of our personal injuries or wrongful death attorneys today.
