2 men charged in Beaufort County bridge crash that killed 3 children, pregnant woman
More than three months after a crash on a Beaufort County bridge killed four members of a family, police have charged two men for their roles in the collision.
Friday morning, the Port Royal Police Department charged Beaufort residents Terry Shy’kwon Campbell, 19, and Phillip Brendan Roberts, 40, with five counts of reckless homicide, according to a news release and jail records.
A three-vehicle crash on Sept. 19 on the J. E. McTeer bridge resulted in a Dodge Caravan carrying a family of five plummeting off the bridge in the late morning.
“Roberts’ and Campbell’s vehicles were both at fault and collided with each other,” the Port Royal Police release said. “They then spun out of control causing another collision resulting in the victim’s vehicle descending into the waterway.”
Arrest warrants say Campbell was driving at 86 mph, and Roberts was driving at 81 mph in the 55-mph zone.
The Caravan’s driver survived as the car sank into the Beaufort River.
Burton residents Tikia Lashay Doe, 36, Jashawn Hawkins, 16, Alonzo Houston, 6, and Cameron Perry, 3, were pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Coroner’s Office.
Doe was eight months pregnant, according to a police report. The five homicide charges cover the four victims and the unborn child.
What happened?
Campbell was behind the wheel of a gold Chevrolet Malibu, and Roberts was driving a gray Ford F-150, according to a Port Royal Police report.
Police interviewed them both after the Dodge Caravan tumbled off the bridge.
Campbell was driving on a beginner’s permit, and his car was found to have heavy damage in the front, including a detached bumper and broken quarter panel.
A witness, who was a few cars behind Campbell, told an officer that she saw his car weaving in and out of traffic before getting on the bridge. She told police she saw the Chevrolet speed up and again begin switching lanes.
She said she did not see the actual crash but saw the Dodge Caravan flip over the bridge.
Campbell told a Port Royal officer that he didn’t know what happened, except that just before the crash he swerved from the right lane to the left and got behind the Ford F-150.
Another Port Royal officer administered a field sobriety test to Campbell. He concluded that he “did not believe intoxication was a factor in this collision,” the report said.
Roberts’ car was found to have sustained damage as well.
Asked in an email whether the men were racing, Port Royal Police Capt. John Griffith replied, “Speed was a factor.”
Facing charges
The Beaufort men were arrested and booked into the Beaufort County Detention Center close to 7:30 a.m. on Friday
Both men were released around 10 a.m., jail records show.
They were released on personal recognizance bonds set at $500,000, according to documents. The dollar amount is what they could pay if they do not return to court.
Because they were released on their own recognizance, the men did not have to pay any money to get out of jail. Individuals who receive surety bonds must pay 10% of the total bond to be released from jail.
Reckless homicide is a felony, each count punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The Department of Motor Vehicles must revoke someone’s license for five years if convicted of reckless homicide.
This story was originally published January 8, 2021 at 11:13 AM.
