Calhoun County Teen Faces Manslaughter Charges After Fatal Collision
If you can get through your first year as a licensed driver without getting into a major wreck, you are off to a good start, and it will likely be smooth sailing as your years of a clean driving record add up and your insurance premiums decrease. Early driving career collisions can be devastating; almost every teen backs into a mailbox or incorrectly navigates a restaurant drive through at some point before high school graduation, but young drivers account for a disproportionate share of the accidents that result in death or serious injury. Drivers of any age can face criminal charges if they cause an accident that inflicts severe bodily harm; even if the driver did not cause the accident on purpose, his or her lack of caution may constitute a crime. The charges might include DUI resulting in serious bodily injury if the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol or involuntary manslaughter if the driver caused a fatal collision. If you have been injured in a car accident where the at fault driver was young and newly licensed, contact a Columbia car accident lawyer.
News Reports Say That Love Triangle Was the Reason Behind the Deadly Chase
In October 2024, two teens, a 17-year-old boy and an 18-year-old girl, were riding in a car together in Orangeburg County. As they approached the intersection of Shillings Bridge Road and Neeses Highway, they found another vehicle trying to block them. They got away, but the other car pursued them. Elijah Hickson, the driver of the car that was trying to block them, followed them at high speed on Highway 4 until the 17-year-old driver of the pursued vehicle lost control of the car and struck a tree. Both the 17-year-old driver and the 18-year-old passenger died of injuries they sustained in the accident.
After an investigation into the causes of the accident, police issued a warrant for the arrest of Hickson. He was later charged with involuntary manslaughter for his role in the collision. News reports allege that romantic jealousy led Hickson to chase the other car. They implied that Hickson, 17, will be charged as an adult in criminal court.
The families of the victims have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit in civil court against Hickson or any other parties that the investigation deems responsible for the collision. The plaintiffs can prevail even if the outcome of the criminal case against Hickson is something other than a conviction, such as if he is acquitted or enters a plea of no contest. They even have a change to prevail if the state drops the charges against him before he even enters a plea.
Let Us Help You Today
The personal injury lawyers at the Stanley Law Group can help you pursue a lawsuit or insurance claim after a car accident. Contact The Stanley Law Group in Columbia, South Carolina or call (803)799-4700 for a free initial consultation.
Source:
wrdw.com/2024/10/11/17-year-old-charged-with-manslaughter-orangeburg-county-crash/
