Illegal street race drew hundreds to Lowcountry venue from 21 counties, police say
It was something out of a Fast and Furious movie— until Colleton County sheriff’s deputies showed up.
More than 200 people were part of an illegal street-racing event in Walterboro on Saturday night. After breaking it up, deputies issued 67 citations, recovered three stolen vehicles, and made one arrest, according to Shalane Lowes, spokesperson for the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office.
Lowes said each citation was for violating Gov. Henry McMaster’s stay-at-home order, and each was issued to a driver of a car, meaning at least 67 cars were at the event on Ritter and Bowman Road. The recipients of the citations came from 21 counties across South Carolina, and one came from Savannah, she said.
Kevin Deangelo Laboard, 33, of Johns Island was arrested and cited with illegal street racing, being a pedestrian in the roadway, and violating the governor’s order, according to the sheriff’s office.
Lowes said Laboard was spraying the road with a sticky compound, which street racers typically light on fire so cars that drive over it have better tire traction.
After Laboard’s arrest, 11 deputies followed as racers and spectators fled to another known racing area, according to authorities. That is where deputies began issuing citations.
Lowes said Colleton County is familiar with illegal street racing.
“As soon as you get one area under control, they go to another area,” she said. “It’s like whack a mole.”
South Carolina and Georgia rank among the top 10 states that have the greatest percentage of drivers with street-racing citations, according to data gathered by car insurance company Insurify.
“Street racing is not only illegal, but it’s very dangerous,” Lowes said. “People live on these roads.”
