By HEATHER WALTERS
A woman has been arrested and charged in connection with the recent Bells Highway crash where a pedestrian was struck by a car and critically injured.
Christan V. Spires, 29, of Walterboro is charged with Felony DUI with bodily injury for the April 18 crash that critically injured a Conway man. She was in custody on May 5 and also released on May 5 via a PR bond at a bond hearing.
According to initial reports from the Walterboro Police Department, Spires was the driver of a vehicle that struck the victim. The incident occurred in the Remax parking lot at about 3 a.m.
The man was found laying facedown in the parking lot, bleeding from his head. Pieces of the vehicle were located in the road.
Witnesses at the scene told police officers that the victim was spotted standing on the passenger side of the vehicle in a parking lot, talking with the female driver. The two did know each other.
Other witnesses said the woman was seen turning her vehicle around in the roadway. Another witness told officers that they heard a “commotion,” according to the police report,
Officers found Spires sitting outside the car, the report states.
She was originally charged with Driving Under Influence, First Offense, but she refused to take a breath test. When asked why a blood test was not administered to Spires, the police department’s spokeswoman said no comment could be given, as the investigation into the case was ongoing.
The Walterboro Police Department has not confirmed these charges. As of press deadline, several attempts to gain the report and arrest record for Spires from the WPD were unsuccessful.
However, her arrest information is public record via the Colleton County Detention Center booking log.
The man was originally taken to the Trauma Center at Trident Medical Center in North Charleston. At the time of the crash, the victim was deemed “critically injured” by Colleton County Fire Rescue Chief Barry McRoy.
Editor’s Note: It is the policy of The Press and Standard and is considered good practice by the S.C. Press Association to only hit print the names of those who charged with a felony and/or who are a public official. While Spires is not a public official, she has been charged with a felony criminal charge.
