A man from Greenville man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after a police chase and crash which ended with the death of a firefighter from North Greenville.
The incident happened on the morning of September 17, 2015 when 27 year old John William Kennedy stole a truck from his former girlfriend’s father and tried to sell it at a gas station. Deputies went to the gas station to arrest Kennedy but he tried to leave the scene and hit one of the deputies with the truck and was then shot in the forehead by the deputy.
Despite being shot he then fled in the truck and was chased by deputies until he crossed into the wrong lane on Highway 25 at which point the chase was called off. However, Kennedy still drove the wrong way down Highway 25 at high speed until he hit firefighter Jordan Howard, on his motorcycle on the way to work. Kennedy was arrested fleeing the scene on foot.
He pleaded guilty to a range of charges including Attempted Murder, Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Death and Reckless Homicide and was sentenced to a range of prison terms to run concurrently meaning 20 years in prison followed by 5 years of probation. He will not be eligible for parole until he has served 85% of his sentence.
If you, or someone you know, have been injured in a serious car or motorcycle accident in South Carolina, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Please contact us today at (864) 280-7660 or contact us online, so we can schedule your free initial consultation and get you the financial compensation you deserve.
