Greenwood,SC : Two drivers charged with felony DUI after crash kills 2 motorcyclists on May, Saturday 5th 2018
Greenwood, South Carolina
Troopers said a man has been charged with felony DUI after a collision in Greenwood County killed two people.
SCHP said the crash happened along US 221 at Evans Pond at 8:50 p.m. Saturday night.
According to troopers, two motorcycles, a 2005 Nissan and a 1999 Jeep were involved in the collision.
The Jeep was struck by the two motorcycles, troopers said. One of the motorcycles then ran off the road into a ditch and the other was struck by the Nissan, according to SCHP.
Troopers said neither of the motorcyclists were wearing helmets and both were ejected from their vehicles. The passengers on both motorcycles were also ejected and were transported to the hospital, per SCHP.
According to troopers, the driver of the Jeep was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision and was ejected from the vehicle. He was transported by helicopter to the hospital.
The Greenwood County Coroner identified the victims of the crash as 57-year-old Tommy Edward Burdette and 45-year-old John Wilson Ruley Jr. The coroner said both men died on scene from blunt force trauma.
"I never thought I'd had to go through this day, but as I try to pull myself together I know I can do it a lot easier because I've got my dad's strength," Will Ruley said.
Troopers said the driver of the Nissan, 22-year-old Shaundrece Clark, was charged with two counts of felony DUI and two counts of felony DUI resulting in great bodily injury. According to troopers, Clark was also charged with open container and simple possession of marijuana.
The driver of the Jeep, 59-year-old Ronald Derossett, was also charged in connection with the collision. Troopers said Derossett was charged with two counts of felony DUI with death, two counts of felony DUI with great bodily injury, driving under suspension and simple possession of marijuana.
The crash remains under investigation.
Ruley was the president of the Lakelands chapter of the Warlocks Motorcycle Club. Burdette was also a member of the group.
"The Warlocks were his bike family. They did everything together. If it was just him somebody would pitch in and ride with him. They would never ride alone. For instance, the night that this tragedy happened, he was not by himself. He was with someone," Will Ruley said.
Services for Ruley will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel. Services for Burdette will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel.
The visitation for Ruley will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Burdette's visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
Both victims will be escorted by members of the Lakelands Warlock Motorcycle Club.
Source :
Two drivers charged with felony DUI after crash kills 2 motorcyclists