Driver rescued from wreck on Trask Parkway
Just before 5 p.m. Dec. 5, the Burton Fire District was dispatched to a car accident on Trask Parkway in front of MCAS Beaufort.
Burton fire crews arrived on scene to an accident involving a Chevy Camaro and a Toyota Camry, with both cars sustaining major damages, and the driver of the Camaro trapped inside. The fire in the Camry was extinguished with a fire extinguisher prior to arrival of fire crews.
The driver of the Camaro was rescued using the Jaws of Life.
All lanes of Trask Parkway were closed for approximately 30 minutes while emergency crews assisted the injured and removed road hazards.
Since Nov. 23, the Burton Fire District has responded to over 10 motor vehicle accidents involving two fatalities and a pedestrian suffering critical injury, and two house fires, one of which was a total loss and resulted in the death of a family pet.
Two juveniles in custody on assault charges
Two juveniles are being charged with assaulting Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office investigators on Dec. 7.
According to a Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office report, investigators met with the two male juveniles who were being sought for questioning in an ongoing investigation.
When the juveniles were approached at the meeting on the second-floor balcony of the Econo Lodge on Boundary Street in Beaufort, they began kicking, punching and wrestling the two investigators and attempted to push them off of the balcony, the report states.
The two ran away from the Econo Lodge, and another investigator saw them running toward Kmart on Boundary Street. The investigator approached the two and they immediately assaulted him and began to flee again, the report states.
The investigator was able to catch up with them and a struggle ensued. Ultimately, the two juveniles were brought under control and handcuffed by the investigator and deputies.
Both juveniles were detained on three counts of assault and battery on a police officer and two counts of resisting arrest. They are being held in the Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia, where they will stay pending a hearing before the Beaufort County Family Court.
Man charged with arson; body found in home
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office has arrested John Priester, 25, a homeless man from the Burton area, in relation to a Dec. 9 arson.
Teresa Seigler, 56, was found dead inside the burning residence at 126 Falls Road in Burton. The cause of death is under investigation.
Fire debris from the crime scene collected by South Carolina Law Enforcement Division arson investigators will be examined at the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services Laboratory, as will DNA evidence.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Cpl. Jason Malphrus at 843-255-3426 or CrimeStoppers 1-888-CrimeSC to remain anonymous and for possible reward.
Bluffton man arrested on heroin charges
Following a month-long investigation into illegal drugs allegedly being distributed by Anthony “Tony” Mazzochi, 30, of Bluffton, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office investigators obtained warrants for his arrest for the sale and distribution of heroin and sale and distribution of heroin within a half mile of a school.
Additionally, the sheriff’s office obtained search warrants for Mazzochi, his pickup truck and his Hilton Head Island barber shop.
Investigators waited in the parking lot of Mazzochi’s New Orleans Road barber shop for him to arrive on Dec. 9.
At approximately 10:30 a.m., Mazzochi showed up in his pickup truck, at which time investigators approached and arrested him.
During a search of Mazzochi, investigators say they found heroin, Xanax and a large quantity of cash. No other illegal drugs were found during the search warrants on his pickup truck or his barber shop.
In addition to the other active warrants, Mazzochi was also charged with trafficking heroin and possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Substance (Xanax).
He was transported to the Beaufort County Detention Center.
Two wrecks, one rescued, five transported in Burton
Burton firefighters responded to two motor vehicle accidents on Dec. 11, in which one driver was rescued and five people were transported to the hospital.
The first accident was reported on Robert Smalls Parkway by Zaxby’s just after 12:30 p.m. Fire crews arrived on the scene to find a two-vehicle accident with one vehicle on its side and the male driver trapped.
Firefighters rescued the driver, who was transported to Beaufort Memorial Hospital with what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries; two occupants in the second vehicle were not transported.
Two lanes of Robert Smalls Parkway southbound were blocked while emergency crews assisted the trapped driver and removed roadway hazards.
The second accident was reported on Trask Parkway at the intersection of Stuart Point Road just after 1:30 p.m. Both vehicles sustained heavy damage.
Four occupants, including two children, were transported to Beaufort Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
One northbound lane of Trask Parkway, along with the intersection of Trask and Stuart Point Road, were blocked for approximately 30 minutes while emergency crews assisted the injured and removed roadway hazards.
