A man from South Carolina was arrested earlier this week after he wrecked his SUV and then ran from the local police.
Apparently, prior to the crashing of the SUV, the man was involving in a hit-and-run, which is what initiated the original police chase down in West Ashley.
The hit-and-run occurred at the corner of the Savannah Highway and Stocker Drive, just a little before 8:00 p.m. Wednesday night. By the time to police arrives at the hit-and-run site, the victim told the police that the man had been just been sitting at the light just seconds prior to the accident, when he was rear-ended by a Yukon SUV, pushing him out into the intersection.
The man driving the Yukon then darted from the scene and continued northbound down the Savannah highway as though nothing had happened.
There was another eye witness account that called the incident into the police, and told the local authorities that the Yukon driver was now at the corner of Lockwood and Wentworth Street. When the defendant saw the officers, he attempted to avoid the blue light by turning onto Barre Street off of Wentworth.
Officers then combined forces and went down different streets trying to cut off the evasive defendant. They finally ended their chase when the SUV rammed into another vehicle, rendering the Yukon inoperable.
The 50-year-old Mt. Pleasant resident then jumped out of his SUV and began to flee on foot. he was shortly after caught by the police hiding behind some bushes in a backyard of a resident’s home on Gadsden Street.
The defendant, once apprehended, admitted to be under the influence of alcohol. He was released from the Charleston County Detention Center on a $13,495 bond.
He is being charged for the following offenses: “failure to stop for blue lights, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident involving minor injury, and cited for driving too fast for conditions.”
So what does it mean to be involved in a hit-and-run accident in South Carolina?
According to South Carolina General Statute, Section 56-5-1210(A), a driver of a vehicle that is involved in an accident, that ultimately results in an injury or death of a person is mandatorily required to stop their vehicle at the scene of the accident, or as close to it as possible. S. C. Gen. Stat., Section 56-5-1210(A),(2012).
After the driver’s return, he is required to remain at the scene of the accident until he has fulfilled the requirements listed under the S.C. Gen. Stat. Section 56-5-1230. Id.
Section 56-5-1230 states in part, that the defendant may leave the scene of the crime, BUT only for a limited amount of time to report the accident. He is furthermore required to pull his vehicle out of the way of oncoming traffic, if possible, to prevent obstructing other drivers. S.C. Gen. Stat. Section 56-5-1230
“(1) a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not less than thirty days nor more than one year or fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars, or both, when injury results but great bodily injury or death does not result;
(2) a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not less than thirty days nor more than ten years and fined not less than five thousand dollars nor more than ten thousand dollars when great bodily injury results; or
(3) a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not less than one year nor more than twenty-five years and fined not less than ten thousand dollars nor more than twenty-five thousand dollars when death results.” Id.
If you have been charged for a DUI, or any of the aforementioned crimes listed above, contact the law offices of Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower, LLP toll-free at 877-374-5999.