Teen charged with DUI after younger brother killed in crash.

Date: 05/24/2013
Time: Around 2:00 A.M.
Location: Columbia, South Carolina
Vehicle(s) Involved: BMW 740, Chevy Cobalt

By WISTV

"COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -
An 18-year-old charged with felony DUI following a crash that killed his brother is out on bond.
Bond was set for Cameron Stringfellow Friday at $100,000 and he was released on his own recognizance.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol says a BMW being driven by Stringfellow struck a parked car on Shallow Brook Drive around 2:00 Friday morning.
"After hearing the screams for help we both went outside and realized it was teenagers in a car accident," said Dru Frederick.

Frederick had already called 911 and quickly thought of another way to help.

"I ran to my neighbor who is a physician to see if he could come over and help," said Frederick.
After hitting the parked car the BMW ran off the right side of the road and struck several trees. 
There were three teenagers in the car.
The Highway Patrol says all three were wearing their seatbelts and transported to Palmetto Richland Memorial. 
The 16-year-old passenger, John Corey Stringfellow, who was in the backseat of the car, was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The Highway Patrol says Cameron Stringfellow, the driver of the BMW, was charged with felony DUI.  Wesley Thompson, who was also in the car, was taken to Palmetto Health Richland where he was listed in fair condition.
Cameron Stringfellow is the older brother of the victim, and expected to graduate from Spring Valley next week.
Shallow Brook Road is in the Wildewood subdivision in northeast Richland County.
"To have something like this to anyone's child is very, very tough and our hearts and prayers are with the family," said Frederick."

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Ocean Highway bus accident kills one, leaves another in critical condition.

Date: 07/17/2012
Time: Around 7:00 P.M.
Location: Pawleys Island, South Carolina
Vehicle(s) Involved: Dodge Ram, bus

By WMBF News Staff

"PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC (WMBF) – The Highway 17 crash between a bus and a pickup truck has claimed the life of one person Tuesday night and left another in critical condition.

Bob Beebe, spokesman for Midway Fire Rescue, says a collision between a 1997 Dodge pickup truck and a Williamsburg County Transit bus on Highway 17 and Beaumont Road occurred just before 7 p.m. Tuesday and it claimed the life of the pickup truck driver, (censored) 47, of Pawleys Island, due to head trauma and left one bus passenger in critical condition. 
Officials say the bus driver, Joshua McCrea, of Kingstree, SC was traveling south when the truck crossed Highway17 and the bus struck the truck's driver's side.
Coroner Kenny Johnson tells WMBF News an autopsy is scheduled for Smith Wednesday morning at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center.
According to Beebe, there were 19 patients total and 12 were transported to the hospital. Three patients were taken to the Grand Strand Regional Hospital, two were taken to the Waccamaw Community Hospital and seven were taken to the Georgetown Memorial Hospital.
South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the incident, and Midway Fire Rescue officials say the bus had a surveillance camera onboard.  South Carolina Highway Patrol will reportedly review the footage to see who was a fault.
First responders from Murrells Inlet, Horry County and Georgetown City and County assisted the Midway Fire Rescue in their response.
Beebe confirmed, the southbound and northbound lanes have been opened and the accident scene has been cleared.
Alfonzo Allen, a friend to Smith, says he witnessed the crash, and he believes Smith never saw the bus coming.
"[Smith] was just easing out [onto the road] to go home, and I guess he didn't see the bus," Allen said. "The bus tried to miss him, and hit him."
Allen says he can't imagine life without his friend Smith in it.
"It's hard for me right because that's my best friend, somebody I look up to," Allen said. "That's my brother, my friend.""

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2 teens, woman arrested after fatal 4-vehicle crash near airport.

Date: 07/23/2012
Time: Around 3:00 P.M.
Location: Columbia, South Carolina
Vehicle(s) Involved: Ford Thunderbird, Ford Ranger, Dodge Ram, Mail truck

By Jason Old - WISTV

"Two teenagers and a 32-year-old woman have been arrested in connection with a deadly crash in Lexington County.

The accident, involving four cars, happened Monday afternoon on Highway 302 near the Columbia Metropolitan Airport.

According to the highway patrol, 19-year-old Sheldon Dubois of Cayce was driving with a suspended license when he lost control of a black pickup truck and crashed into three other vehicles, including a U.S. Postal Service truck.

Dubois is facing several charges, including reckless homicide.

Lexington County Coroner Harry Harman said 64-year-old (censored) of Lexington was traveling in a white pickup truck when he was hit by Dubois. Mitchell was not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene, the coroner said.

Two others were hospitalized.

Troopers say a 17-year-old passenger in Dubois' truck is also being charged with leaving the scene of crime.

According to highway patrol, 32-year-old Sharon Ellsworth, who was not at the scene of the accident, is also being charged for allowing Dubois to drive the vehicle.

Investigators are still trying to determine Ellsworth's relationship with the two teens."

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HP: 87-year-old had heart attack just before double-fatal wreck.

Date: 05/09/2012
Time: Around 2:00 P.M.
Location: Gilbert, South Carolina
Vehicle(s) Involved: Ford Focus, Ford Mustang, Chevy Silverado

By Jason Old - WISTV10

"GILBERT, SC (WIS) - An elderly man had a heart attack causing him to run through a stop sign Wednesday afternoon and cause a three-vehicle accident that took the lives of two people, including himself, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
The accident happened a little after 2 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 378 and Shore Road near Lake Murray. Highway 378 was closed for about 2 hours while crews investigated the accident and cleared the scene.
The Highway Patrol said the 87-year-old driver of a 2009 Ford Focus, identified by the Lexington County Coroner's office as (censored), failed to stop at the stop sign on Shore Road at 378 and crashed into a pickup truck. The collision forced the pickup into the eastbound lanes of 378 where it was hit by a Ford Mustang.
According to the Highway Patrol, three people were taken to the hospital. The 62-year-old  driver of the pickup, (censored)., was airlifted with serious injuries, and later pronounced dead at the hospital. Butzich was taken to Lexington Medical Center by ambulance and later pronounced dead.
"I was shocked and saddened to hear the news of Ed's death," said Pastor Jeff Kersey of Hartung.  
He said Hartung was a quiet, humble leader at Mount Horeb United Methodist Church in Lexington. Hartung was active with the church's ramp ministry.
 Ed and his team regularly built ramps for the elderly and the handicapped in the community.
"Just yesterday morning Ed was out constructing a ramp for one of our elderly members," said Kersey.  "Even on the day he died he was out serving."
"Why did someone like Ed have to die this way?" asked Kersey.  "We don't know the answer until we step into eternity ourselves. We should be asking what can God do with this how will he use his life to make a difference in our world."
The driver of the Mustang was also taken to Lexington Medical Center by ambulance. She was treated for minor injuries and released.
The accident is being investigated by the Highway Patrol."

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Highway 302 all clear following three-car accident.

Date: 04/26/2012
Time: Morning
Location: West Columbia, South Carolina
Vehicle(s) Involved: Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Dakota

By Jeremy Turnage - WISTV10

"WEST COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -
Highway 302 and Old Dunbar Road are clear following a three-car collision early Thursday morning.
According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, two cars were travelling east on Highway 302 when a third car travelling west crossed the center line, causing the accident.
One person was sent to Palmetto Health Richland with injuries.
The Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the incident and trying to determine if any charges will be filed."

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Highway Patrol: Man thrown from van, killed in accident.

Date: 07/20/2012
Time: Morning
Location: Columbia, South Carolina
Vehicle(s) Involved: Chevy Astro

By Randy Johnson - WISTV10

"COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - A Columbia man is dead after his van hit a pole and overturned Friday morning.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol says a 56-year-old man was driving a 1974 Chevy van on Monticello road when he ran off the right side of the road.
Troopers said the van hit a pole and overturned.
The man was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the van according to the Highway Patrol. They say he died on the scene."

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Trooper hospitalized after on-duty crash.

Date: 07/12/2012
Time: Around 12:00 A.M.
Location: near Sumter, South Carolina
Vehicle(s) Involved: Ford Crown Victoria

By Jason Old - WISTV

"A South Carolina Highway Patrol trooper is hospitalized in stable condition after a collision while he was on-duty early Thursday morning.
According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, L/Cpl. R. M. Falls was responding to a call to assist the Sumter County Sheriff's Department with a domestic situation when the accident occurred.
Falls lost control of his patrol vehicle and hit a tree just after midnight near the intersection of Wedgefield Road and Deschamps Road, Sumter County Sheriff's investigators said.
He was called to help deputies because the domestic situation was happening inside a car on Highway 763. 
"The South Carolina Highway Patrol is very concerned about L/Cpl. Falls and we are keeping him and his family in our prayers," said Col. Mike Oliver. "We are a family and when one of our own is injured, it impacts us all."
"The SCDPS Team is thinking of the Falls family at this time," said SCDPS Director Leroy Smith. "We will be here to support his family throughout his period of recovery."
SCDPS did not release any other information about the crash.
Falls, whose father was also a trooper, is a 21-year veteran of the highway patrol. He has four kids, according to family members.
It is unclear if he was wearing a seatbelt.
The Sumter County Sheriff's Office is investigating."
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Update: Crash Injures 3 In Anderson, Driver Ticketed.

Date: 05/10/2012
Time: Around 2:15 P.M.
Location: Anderson, South Carolina
Vehicle(s) Involved: Chrysler Town & Country, Kia Rio

By WSPA Staff

"Anderson County, SC --

The Highway Patrol worked an accident Sunday in Anderson - at the intersection of Clemson Road and Royal American Road.
Troopers say it happened around 2:15 p.m..
They say a Chrysler Minivan was at a stop sign and attempted to make a left turn onto Clemson Road (US 76) and turned in front of a Kia.
The driver and passenger of the Kia were injured and transported by ambulance to AnMed.  Troopers say neither were wearing a seat belt.
Troopers say the driver of the minivan -- 34 year old Melissa Manley of Anderson -- was injured and transported by ambulance to AnMed.
The other two passengers in the minivan -- a 6 year old boy and a 2 year old girl - were not injured.
Troopers say Manley was cited for failure to yield right of way."

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Car Hits Anderson County Home, Trapped Man Rescued.

Date: 06/19/2012
Time: Around 11:30 P.M.
Location: Anderson, South Carolina
Vehicle(s) Involved: Honda Accord

By WSPA Staff

"ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. --
Three people were taken to a hospital when a car hit a home in Anderson County Tuesday night.
Anderson County Fire Chief Billy Gibson says the call came in from 2308 Rolling Green Road around 11:30 Monday night, reporting that a car had struck a house and two people were trapped inside.
Firefighters arrived on scene and found a man trapped underneath the car.
They began administering aid to the victims, but their biggest concern was getting the patients out without a collapse due to the structural damage to the house. They called in Anderson County Technical Rescue to shore up the building.
 “Our major concern is always the safety of our responders, so we don’t want them going into an environment that could become dangerous and that was one of our main concerns…we didn’t know how badly the damage was to the structure of the house. So getting them in there and shoring it up and make sure it was structurally sound so we could get the patient out", said Chief Gibson.
They were able to extricate him and he was transported to Anderson Area Medical Center.
Beth Sharp lives across the street and has been friends with the couple for 30 years. She was going to bed and heard screeching tires and then a crash. She went out and saw the car inside the house.
Sharp said, ”She (the victim's wife) was trying to rip away the wall and stuff  and the car was jammed up into the living room and she kept saying…my husband, my husband, he’s in here, I’ve got to get him out".
Chief Gibson says it appears that a female driver of a Honda was backing out of a driveway across the street and at some point lost control.
She backed across the road, through the yard and into the house. The man who was trapped under the car was asleep on the couch when the car struck.
The driver was transported along with the two people inside the home.
Captain Bruce Spigener of the Broadway Fire Department was one of the first responders on the scene.
"It could've been a lot worse, but luckily it was not for him or for us," he said.
Chief David Burnette of the Broadway Fire Department says it's a miracle the man survived.
"It's just amazing the way the car come in there and he ended up in the right spot not to get hurt any worse than he was," said Burnette. "Yeah, I definitely say he had a couple angels with him last night.""

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Car Ends Up Sideways at State House Entrance.

Date: 06/27/2012
Time: Morning
Location: Columbia, South Carolina
Vehicle(s) Involved: Lincoln MKX

By WTLX News

"Columbia, SC (WLTX) - A single car accident had one of the entrances to the State House parking structure blocked Wednesday morning.
The driver of the car told police the sun impacted her line of sight as she was entering the garage.
She hit one of the cement barriers and her car flipped on its side, blocking an entrance lane. The driver was not taken to the hospital.
No one else was involved in the accident."

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Dump truck driver cited in Myrtle Beach area crash on U.S. 501.

Date: 09/28/2011
Time: Around 4:30 P.M.
Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Vehicle(s) Involved: Jeep Cherokee, Dodge Caliber, Chrysler Sebring

By Tonya Root - troot@thesunnews.com 

" A dump truck driver was cited following a crash Wednesday along U.S. 501 at Carolina Forest Boulevard that sent two people to area hospitals, according to the S.C. Highway Patrol.

James Strumke was cited for changing lanes unlawfully following the crash that occurred about 5 p.m. Wednesday, said Cpl. Bob Beres with the highway patrol.
The crash happened when Strumke was traveling along U.S. 501 in a 2007 dump truck and sideswiped a 2005 Chrysler Sebring as they went through the intersection of Carolina Forest Boulevard, Beres said. The Sebring struck a Jeep and Dodge Caliber in the intersection.

One person was taken to a local hospital by EMS and one person was flown by medical helicopter to New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Beres said."

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