Beaufort County pediatrician charged with DUI, child endangerment

A Beaufort County pediatrician was arrested in Charleston last month after he reportedly fell asleep at the wheel while intoxicated and bumped a police cruiser, according to a police report.

Lance Lowe's daughter was also in the car Dec. 13 and told officers her father had been drinking throughout the day, the Charleston Police Department report said. Lowe, founder of Palmetto Pediatrics of the Lowcountry in Okatie and on Hilton Head Island, was charged with DUI, child endangerment and open containers of beer and liquor, all misdemeanors, according to police.

Lowe, 45, was arrested after a Charleston officer noticed his pickup truck stopped at a green light about 5:40 p.m. Dec. 13 on Ashley River Road. The officer parked in front of the truck and approached Lowe, who appeared to be sleeping, the report said.

The officer knocked on the window and woke Lowe, who looked at the officer and immediately began to drive, striking the cruiser. He then tried to drive away, but quickly ran off the road, hit a street sign and came to a stop, the report said. The officer approached Lowe again and searched his car, finding an open beer can in the truck's console and an empty mini-bottle of liquor in the back of the truck.

Lowe appeared to have trouble walking and refused to talk with officers, perform field sobriety tests or take a Breathalyzer test, the report said. He was transported to a Charleston jail and released Dec. 14 on bond.

A hearing on his DUI charge is scheduled for Friday in Charleston Municipal Court. Attempts to reach Lowe Tuesday were unsuccessful.

Follow reporter Rebecca Lurye on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Rebecca.

This story was originally published January 6, 2015 at 7:56 PM with the headline "Beaufort County pediatrician charged with DUI, child endangerment."