A woman responsible for a DUI-fueled car accident that injured several people, her son, and killed a well-known resident, pleaded guilty on December 12, as reported by the Rock Hill Herald.
S.S, 23, pleaded guilty to a total of five charges stemming from DUI: Felony DUI resulting in a death, felony DUI resulting in great bodily injury, inflicting great bodily injury on a child, child endangerment, and driving under suspension second offense.
Per Deputy Solicitor Willy Thompson, S.S. was sentenced to 27 years in prison, however, the sentence was split - first will be 12 years without parole and five years probation, and the second 15 year sentence will not have to be served if she doesn't violate the terms of her probation.
On May 26, while under the influence of alcohol, cocaine and prescription drugs, S.S. drove an SUV over the center lane of Alexander Love Highway, and drove head-on into a van.
Traveling with S.S., L.S., the Lake Wylie Rotary Club founder, died in the crash. He had not been wearing a seat belt.
Four more people, traveling in the van, were taken to the Piedmont Medical Center in Charlotte for treatment of their injuries and then later released. S.S., and her three year-old boy, were flown to the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.
S.S.'s son, riding in the backseat, was not restrained in a child's seat or by a shoulder harness. Instead, the boy only had the lap portion of the belt to hold him in. He now suffers with injuries - that expect to be lifelong per Solicitor Kevin Brackett - that include bowel and spine damage.
Thompson determined that S.S. failed to brake - as there were no skid marks - and was traveling at approximately 41 mph before the impact.
Brackett asked the court to decree a "sentence that reflects the gravity" of the crime and all those injured.
Harry Dest was the public defender assigned to the case. Dest claimed that while S.S. had a "horrific drug and alcohol" problem that was "out of control" she could benefit from drug and mental health treatment.
S.S.'s blood alcohol proved to be .2 percent - the legal driving limit is .08 percent. She also tested positive for cocaine and prescription drugs found in her system.
S.S. worked for L.S. in a secretarial capacity while he also tried to help her find a job and gain her high school diploma. L.S.'s mother said, in a letter to the court, that S.S. only lacked in good judgment and did not have "malicious intentions."
S.S. apologized for hurting the families of all involved, including her own. She said that she was "at peace" and will accept whatever sentence was handed down.
K.R., S.S.' brother, said, "She is very, very sorry for what she did. This is a wake-up call for her."
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