ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. — A 17-year-old has been charged with causing a crash that killed two others in Orangeburg County on Tuesday.
The Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office and the South Carolina Highway Patrol have been investigating the crash, which the suspect initially claimed to have passed by.
However, further investigation uncovered that the suspect was allegedly pursuing the vehicle when it crashed into a tree, killing an 18-year-old female and a 17-year-old male. Warrants state the suspect found a passenger in the vehicle with his girlfriend and, around 1 a.m., chased the vehicle on two-lane roads. The warrant states he tried to block the vehicle in the area of Shillings Bridge Road and Neeses Highway, but the victims escaped. The chase then continued along Neeses Highway before the pursued vehicle crashed into a tree near the intersection of Neeses Highway and Rivers Turn Road, killing both victims.
According to the warrants, the suspect told the South Carolina Highway Patrol he only passed by the crash but was heard on 911 at the scene and identified himself in the call. The suspect is now facing two counts of manslaughter as a result of the crash and, according to the sheriff's office, faces up to 30 years in prison on each count if convicted.
Authorities said they are still investigating the crash.