By Mike McCombs
The Island News
An attempted traffic stop by the S.C. Highway Patrol (SCHP) last week ended in a fiery crash.
At 10:07 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 19, a State Trooper tried to stop a 2015 Kia Optima for speeding, but was unsuccessful in getting the car to stop, and a pursuit occurred, according to SCHP spokesman Trooper Nick Pye.
According to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office incident report, the trooper requested assistance with a pursuit at Clydesdale Circle. Before the deputy could assist, he was advised the trooper had lost contact with the vehicle on Grober Hill Road and had called off the pursuit.
Shortly afterward, the trooper was advised by a witness that they saw the vehicle crash into the brush line near the intersection of Grober Hill Road and Savannah Highway.
The trooper and the deputy arrived and cleared the vehicle of a driver and two passengers. Moments later, flames emerged from the vehicle, and it quickly became fully engulfed in flames.
The City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department responded and extinguished the vehicle fire, but both lanes of Savannah Highway heading toward Parris Island were shut down for approximately two hours.
Meanwhile, the occupants of the vehicle fled but were apprehended within minutes after getting stuck in pluff mud.
The driver was identified as 22-year-old Christian Dubois of Beaufort. His passengers were Darrius Jenkins and Myron Simmons.
Ultimately, while his passengers were released, Dubois was arrested by the trooper and charged with Speeding, Driving Under Suspension and Failure to Stop For a Blue Light. He was transported to the Beaufort County Detention Center and has since been released.
The Town of Port Royal Police responded to this call, as well.
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
