Dan Pruitt Injury Law Firm - 300 Pettigru St., Suite 100, Greenville, SC 29601

Greenville Man Sentenced To 20 Years for Death Of a Firefighter

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.

Motorcycle Driver Dies in Crash Following a Police Chase

On Thursday evening, September 8, a motorcycle driver died in a crash following a police chase.

According to South Carolina Highway Patrol, the police chase began in Greenville County and then moved through Anderson and Pickens Counties before returning to Greenville County. Police say that the motorcycle had been stolen in Greenville County by 31 year old Christopher Lee Tollison, of Piedmont. The troopers tried to stop him for erratic driving and improper lane change but were unable to and eventually he crashed on Highway 123 near Washington Avenue.

Authorities confirmed that none of the troopers’ cars made contact with the motorcycle, and no troopers were hurt in the pursuit.

They also confirmed that the South Carolina Highway Patrol had pending warrants for Tollison for driving under suspension, failing to stop for police and operating an insured vehicle.

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.

Two Killed in Hit and Run Accident

Early on Sunday morning, July 3 two people riding a motorcycle in Anderson County were killed by a hit and run driver.

According to South Carolina Highway Patrol, the accident happened at around 2.45 a.m. on State Highway 28 near State Highway 24 just west of Anderson.

Thirty five year old Jesse Gene Speer, of Anderson, was driving a 2005 Nissan Altima and he hit a Harley Davidson from behind, causing the motorcycle to crash. He then left the scene.

Both the rider and passenger, Bryan Donald Smith and his wife, Shannon Michelle, who were both aged 46, were ejected from the motorcycle and died at the scene. Neither of them was wearing a helmet at the time.

Speer was charged with two counts of felony DUI involving death and two counts of leaving the scene of an accident involving death. He was released on bail of $500,000.

In court, Speer apologized and said he had no idea he had hit anyone.

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.

Two Teens Killed in Single Vehicle Accident

On Friday, June 3, there was a single vehicle accident in Greenville following which two teenagers died.

According to state troopers, the accident happened on Tanner Road in Taylors. William Barksdale, aged 18, was driving a Nissan when he went off the right side of the road and then overcorrected. He went across the road and off the left side and hit a tree. Barksdale and a passenger, 17 year old Valentina Rojas were both entrapped in the car and neither was wearing a seat belt. A second passenger, Joseph Culbertson was wearing a seat belt and he managed to get out of the car and call 911.

Both Rojas and Barksdale were seriously injured and were taken to the Greenville memorial Trauma Center where Barksdale died on Sunday afternoon and Rojas on Sunday night.

Culbertson said the crash happened while he and his friends were on the way to his sister’s home for a graduation celebration.

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.

Three Family Members Die in Head on Collision

On Sunday afternoon, May 8, three family members from Greenville died in a head on collision in Pickens County.

According to authorities the accident happened at around 2 p.m. near the intersection of State 11 and West Gate Road. A Honda Pilot crossed the center line and collided with a Honda Civic head on. All three occupants of the Civic were wearing seat belts and had to be extricated from the car.

The three occupants of the Honda Pilot were taken to Greenville Memorial Hospital in serious condition. The driver was 16 and the two passengers were 13, Jones said. All three were wearing seat belts.

In the Honda Civic were 25 year old Megan Mullinax, 14 year old Kandice Broome, and 9 year old Furman Broome. They were all of Moody Street in Greenville and all died at the scene from blunt force trauma.

The accident is still under investigation.

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.

Seneca Man Killed in Fatal Wreck in Greenville County

On Monday afternoon, April 4 a man was killed in a fatal wreck in Greenville County.

According to state troopers, the accident happened at around 3 p.m. at Geer Highway and Persimmon Ridge Road. David Joseph Davies aged 36 and of Seneca was driving a 2014 Toyota west on U.S. 276 when for reasons as yet unknown the vehicle left the road on the left side then drove off a four foot embankment, hit a tree and flipped.

Davies, who was wearing a seat belt was pronounced dead at the scene and was later identified by the Greenville County coroner’s office.

The highway was temporarily shut down to clear the scene of the accident and the investigation into why Davies’ vehicle left the road is ongoing including the results of toxicology.

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.

Man Killed in Two Vehicle Wreck

On Tuesday, March 1, a man was killed in a two vehicle wreck in Seneca.

According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, 66 year old Tommy Edward Roach, of the Utica community, was leaving Paw’s Diner on Clemson Boulevard together with his family shortly after 2 p.m. He was driving a 2003 Chevy Malibu. As he left the diner he pulled out in front of a 2010 Toyota Corolla being driven by 34 year old Nexsi Castillo of Newry. The Toyota hit the Chevy on the driver’s side.

Both Castillo and Roach were taken to Oconee Memorial Hospital where Castillo was treated and released but even though he was wearing a seatbelt, Roach died of his injuries due to blunt force trauma to the chest and abdomen.

Roach’s family were also injured and taken to hospital but no information was available on their condition.

The accident remains under investigation.

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.

Man Died In Motorcycle and Car Crash

On Friday night, January 29 a man from Gray Court died in a motorcycle and car crash.

According to Simpsonville police, the accident happened at around 6.30 p.m. at 499 SE Main Street at the Loma Street intersection in front of an Auto Zone store in Simpsonville. There was a collision between a four door car being driven by 43 year old Marka Fuller of Simpsonville and a motorcycle being driven by 58 year old David Gibson of Gray Court.

Gibson died in the collision and Fuller has been charged with driving under the influence resulting in death, possession of schedule IV controlled substance and driving too fast for conditions.

Gibson was the Maintenance Director with Marchbanks Assisted Living of Anderson, South Carolina and was survived by his wife Rachel Ann Blount Gibson, three sons, three grandchildren and a great grandson.

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.

Deadly Crash in Union County

On Monday, November 30, there was a deadly crash in Union County.

According to authorities, the crash happened at around 2.20 p.m. on Highway 56 at Green Leaf Drive about five miles west of Clinton. A 2001 Chevy Blazer traveling east on SC 52 being driven by 30 year old Rhonda M. Bellew, of Union went over the right side of the road, over corrected and crossed back over the highway and went down an embankment and hit a tree.

Her front seat passenger was 34 year old Leroy Dean Davis of Jones Ford Road in Union and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bellew was injured and taken to Spartanburg Medical Center.

Neither driver nor passenger was wearing a seat belt.

The Coroner’s Office and Highway Patrol are investigating and so far it is not known why Bellew left the roadway.

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.

Woman Fell to her Death Helping Crash Victim

On Saturday, September 26, a young woman fell to her death trying to help a crash victim.

According to the South Carolina Highway, 34 year old David Leroy Bergen was driving a pickup truck which did not belong to him at around 1.30 a.m. He crashed the vehicle on the interstate 385 and having exited the vehicle he fell off the side of the road and landed on Highway 276 near Old Stage Road. Other motorists stopped to help when they saw the crash and 29 year old Jessica Smith, who was a nurse, heard Bergen screaming from the road below. It appears that she did not know how far below the road was and she went over and fell around 20 feet to her death.

Bergen was taken to hospital with serious injuries and has now been charged with several driving violations including DUI, driving under suspension, driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent and failure to pay child support.

Jessica was not only a certified nursing assistant from Greer she was also the mother of a nine year old son and was buried in Fountain Inn on October 7.

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.