Truck Driver Accused of Felony DUI in SC in January Finds Himself With DUI Charges in Georgia
A truck driver who killed a Charleston medical student in a felony DUI in January has been arrested again, this time in Georgia, for a similar crime.
On April 6th, in Conyers, GA, Arnold Bradford Williams, 35, was arrested after several witnesses said they saw his freightliner, which hauled 26 tons of stone, weaving in and out of traffic on I-20. According to a Georgia state police report, a breathalyzer showed that Williams’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was .222, nearly three times the legal limit. The arresting officer in Georgia reported a fruity alcohol smell on Williams’s breath, and he found an empty can of Mike’s Hard Lemonade in a storage compartment in the cab.
A Newton County Sheriff’s report says that Williams has been charged with DUI and open container. He is currently being held at a Rockdale County jail, and a motion to revoke his bond will be heard at a Friday hearing. The motion was put forth to prevent Williams from fleeing.
According to reports, during the arrest, Williams asked how long he would be held in jail in Rockdale County, because he had to appear in court in Charleston, SC on Friday regarding his reckless homicide charge in January.
Charleston Accident In January Might Be a Felony DUI
The incident in Charleston on January 28th, 2013 claimed the life of Medical University of South Carolina student Lauren Baccari. According to incident reports, Baccari was sitting in traffic on 1-526 East, near Rivers Avenue, because a fuel spill stalled traffic. Reports state that Williams, in his freightliner, came up behind Baccari too quickly and crushed her vehicle. Three other cars and another truck were also caught in the wreck.
A witness claims to have seen Williams take a pack of alcoholic beverages out of his cab and throw them over the side of the interstate after the accident occurred. Williams was initially charged with felony DUI in Baccari’s death, but the charge was changed to reckless homicide due to lack of evidence, and a review from the 9th Circuit Solicitor’s Office. The review stated that a more serious charge like felony DUI could not be issued because Williams passed a field sobriety test as well as a toxicology test after the wreck. He managed to make his $100,000 bail and was released.
However, Williams had a long history of traffic violations. He had at least 10 tickets for failing to wear a seat belt, several speeding tickets, a ticket for improper passing, and had been cited on another occasion for open container.
“There’s a history of speeding,” Magistrate Linda Lombard noted before setting bail in the North Charleston hearing. “It’s sad it has to end this way.”
South Carolina Felony DUI Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been charged with felony DUI, contact a South Carolina felony DUI Lawyer at the Strom Law Firm, LLC today. We provide experienced and aggressive representation for those charged with felony DUI throughout South Carolina, as well as Georgia. Call us today for a free consultation. 803.252.4800.
