Deputies: Driver Dies Following High-Speed Chase, Passenger Arrested

Jones faces the following charge: 44-53-0375(C)(1)(a) ~ 450 ~ Drugs / Trafficking in meth. or cocaine base – 10 g or more, but less than 28 g – 1st offense 881

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.–One person has died following a late-night car chase with deputies in Berkeley County.

Shortly before 11 p.m. on Saturday, April 14th, a deputy with the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office was on patrol on Matilda Circle off of Highway 45 in the Pineville area of Berkeley County. This area is a source of numerous complaints about drug activity, according to Chief Mike Cochran.

Cochran stated that the deputy observed a red Ford Mustang leaving the end of the dead-end road commit a moving violation after passing the deputy’s marked cruiser. When the deputy turned around and went to get behind the Mustang, it took off on Highway 45 and accelerated to what appeared to be over 100 mph in very short time.

The deputy activated his emergency equipment in order to stop the Mustang. The Mustang continued to speed away, disregarding the blue lights and siren. The deputy’s in-car radar clocked the Mustang at 118mph as it pulled away from the cruiser.

Approaching Gould Road on Highway 45, the Mustang struck a vehicle that was in the roadway. The driver was ejected and later found to be deceased. The passenger of the Mustang, later identified as Tyrone Kawan Jones, was observed walking around the crashed Mustang. He was detained while the deputy was assessing the crash scene.

Located in the interior vents in the crashed Mustang was a bag of white, rock-like substance that field tested presumptive to be cocaine. The weight was 12.56 gross grams. Several opened cans of beer were also located in the wreckage. Jones was arrested transported by EMS to an area hospital for evaluation. He was later transported to the Hill Finklea Detention Center pending warrant service and a bond hearing.

Berkeley County Coroner Bill Salisbury has identified 37-year-old Latrrio Kenya Singleton of Cross as the driver of the sedan involved in the motor-vehicle accident on Highway 45 in Pineville. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Singleton was not wearing a seatbelt, Salisbury stated. His death has been ruled accidental.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol was called in to investigate the crash as is standard procedure.