Top Stories

Man Charged With DUI After Deadly Berkeley County Wreck

The pedestrian has been identified as Esteban Cupil Lopez.
The victim has been identified as 46-year-old Walter McDowell of Clinton, S.C.

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.–One man is behind bars and another person is dead following a traffic accident in Ridgeville Sunday that occurred around 11:30 p.m.

On Aug. 7, at 11:30 p.m. 46-year-old Walter McDowell of Clinton, S.C. was traveling west on I-26 near mile marker 190 when he collided with another vehicle, stated Chief Deputy Coroner George Oliver with the Berkeley County Coroner’s Office.

McDowell was pinned in his 2003 Ford Expedition and was extricated by the local fire dept, authorities stated.

He was pronounced dead on the scene.  McDowell was not wearing a seatbelt.  His death has been ruled as accidental.

Officials with the South Carolina Highway Patrol say 34-year-old Michael Sterns was changing lanes westbound on I-26 near mile marker 190 and he hit another vehicle.

Sterns’ vehicle ran off the road, overturned and hit a tree, SCHP officials stated. He was also taken to the hospital. His injuries are unknown.

Three passengers in McDowell’s vehicle were taken to Trident Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

The Berkeley County Coroner’s Office and the South Carolina Highway Patrol are investigating the accident.

Nikki Gaskins Campbell
Follow Me

Comments are closed.