Staff reports
A Ridgeland man who struck and killed a pedestrian while driving away from the scene of a raucous party at a Shell Point residence has been sent to prison in connection with the woman’s death.
On Thursday, June 25, a Beaufort County General Sessions Court jury found Clinton Lee Anthony Brown, 41, guilty of hit and run involving death after striking and killing Redeidre Holmes with his truck. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, three years’ probation and a $10,000 fine.
“Redeidre Holmes lost her life because of a series of reckless choices by this defendant,” said Jared Shedd of the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, who prosecuted the case. “Had Mr. Brown summoned helped immediately, Ms. Holmes might still be with us. We are grateful the jury carefully considered the evidence and delivered justice.”
On Aug. 22, 2020, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and S.C. Highway Patrol officers were called to Cleveland Drive in Shell Point after receiving a report of a vehicle striking a pedestrian.
Earlier in the evening, the Sheriff’s Office was called after a fight involving Brown broke out during a party at the home of his girlfriend, on Cleveland Drive. Holmes walked away from the party when the fight began. Several minutes later, Brown sped away in a burgundy Dodge Ram pickup truck, while officers were on the scene. Brown struck Holmes shortly thereafter, at about 8:25 p.m. Holmes was knocked nearly 40 feet forward into a shallow ditch parallel to the street.
The passenger-side headlight and hood of Brown’s truck were damaged. He exited his vehicle a short distance from the spot where the collision took place but drove away without rendering aid to Holmes.
Brown told investigators he knew he hit something – a mailbox, perhaps – and called his stepfather to accompany him back to the scene. The men found Holmes face-down in the ditch, about 45 minutes after she had been struck.
Beaufort City Fire and Beaufort County EMS arrived to find Holmes unconscious and in cardiac arrest. The emergency responders administered CPR and transported her to Beaufort Memorial Hospital. However, she was pronounced dead upon arrival. A forensic pathologist from the Medical University of South Carolina determined Holmes died of blunt force trauma to the head, neck and torso.
Highway Patrol’s MAIT collision-investigation team determined Brown was driving 23 to 28 mph, exceeding the posted speed limit of 20 mph. He also was driving without a license.
Shedd called 16 witnesses during two days of testimony at the Beaufort County Courthouse, including a toxicologist from the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division, and officers from the S.C. Highway Patrol, Port Royal Police Department and Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.
The jury could not reach a verdict on a separate charge of driving under the influence resulting in death.
Circuit Court Judge Carmen T. Mullen handed down the sentence.
Shedd has worked for the Solicitor’s Office since 2019.