S.C. deputy charged in connection with crash that killed woman and her 2 daughters on Mother’s Day
06/08/2022 4:12 pm PDT
CHARLESTON, S.C. (TCD) -- A deputy with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office is facing charges for her role in a crash that killed a woman and her two daughters on Mother’s Day.
According to the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Emily Pelletier was reportedly driving on the Savannah Highway on Sunday, May 8, while "en route to back up another deputy" when she collided with another vehicle.
The three victims, Stephanie Dantzler, 53, Shanice Dantzler-Williams, 28, and Miranda Dantzler-Williams, 22, were "entrapped" in their car and died at the scene. Pelletier was reportedly transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Charleston County Sheriff Kristin Graziano announced at a Tuesday, June 7, press conference that the South Carolina Highway Patrol had concluded their investigation into the accident and that charges would be "forthcoming" for Pelletier. WCIV-TV reports Pelletier is facing three counts of reckless homicide.
Graziano spoke to media with the Dantzler-Williams family by her side.
She said, "The facts remain the same. Emily Pelletier contributed to this accident. There is no doubt about the facts."
Graziano believe Pelletier ran a stop sign and did not have her flashing lights on when she crashed into car carrying Dantzler and her daughters.
The sheriff added, "She ran a stop sign and collided with the vehicle that was driven by Shanice. She struck the vehicle, there was no doubt about that. Both the vehicles left the roadway."
Graziano also believes speed was a "contributing factor" to the crash.
Pelletier joined the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office in 2021 and is currently on paid administrative leave.
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