A 38-year-old South Carolina woman is facing multiple counts of felony DUI following a car crash that killed two people on May 26. The accident occurred in Laurens County.
According to authorities, the defendant was driving a Ford Taurus on U.S. 76 when she crossed the center line and smashed head-on into a Ford Mustang. The impact severely injured two women, ages 65 and 63, who were riding in the Mustang. They were airlifted to local hospitals for emergency treatment, but they later died. A third woman riding in the Mustang was also airlifted to a local hospital, and she survived.
Four children riding in the Taurus suffered unknown injuries and were transported to Greenville Memorial Hospital. Authorities said that none of them were wearing seat belts. The defendant had to be cut from the vehicle by emergency crews, but she was wearing a seat belt. She was taken to the same hospital as the children. She has been charged with two counts of felony DUI resulting in death, three counts of felony DUI resulting in great bodily harm and one count of child endangerment. She could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison for each count of felony DUI resulting in death. She could be sentenced to an additional 15 years for each count of felony DUI resulting in great bodily harm.
Felony DUI charges can lead to severe penalties for those who are convicted. Therefore, it is important that defendants understand the charges filed against them and know their legal rights. A criminal defense attorney may explain the charges in detail and help develop a defense strategy. Legal counsel might also be able to enter a plea negotiation to get the charges reduced.
Source: The State, “2 killed, 4 children injured. Now, SC woman faces multiple felony DUI charges,” Teddy Kamula, May 22, 2018