Florida man faces DUI charges in fatal South Carolina accident

A Nov. 8 car accident left three South Carolina residents dead after a man allegedly drove his truck while impaired. The accident took place an approximate half mile from the driver’s home, and he accompanied by a passenger in his vehicle. The truck was traveling on the intersection of U.S. Highway 29 and East Calhoun Street at approximately 12:17 a.m. when it collided head-on with another vehicle.

According to police investigators, the truck was traveling on a curve at a speed of more than 70 mph when the accident occurred. Three people in the other vehicle were killed in the collision. The two other occupants in that car were hospitalized with serious injuries. The deceased included sisters of the surviving crash victims and a 22-year-old man. The truck driver’s passenger was also hospitalized with serious injuries.

The truck driver was denied bond and faced three felony DUI resulting in death charges and three felony DUI resulting in great bodily harm charges. The driver reportedly told police that he had been drinking prior to the accident. According to reports, responding officers called in the South Carolina Highway Patrol accident reconstruction team to help with the investigation.

Fatal car accidents resulting in the death of several people and the severe injury of several others may result in both criminal and civil action in court. The families of the deceased victims may pursue wrongful death lawsuits on their behalf if evidence suggests that another party might be at fault in the accident. The surviving victims may also pursue compensation for different damages stemming from the incident, which might include funeral expenses, emergency medical costs rendered prior to the death of the victims and lost financial support that the victims may have provided the plaintiffs.

Source: WYFF, “Vehicle crash kills three, leads to DUI charges“, November 08, 2014