Third victim dies as a result of Darlington County crash

Dennis Carl Smith

By: From staff reports | SCNow
Published: July 17, 2009

A third person has died in connection with a July 11 traffic collision troopers say was alcohol-related.

Ruby Brown, 60, grandmother of Antonio McFadden and Artivas Gilbert Brown, who also died in the crash, died Friday in a Charlotte hospital from injuries suffered in the collision, Darlington County Coroner Todd Hardee said in a press release.

Dennis Carl Smith, 36, of Hartsville is charged with two counts of felony driving under the influence resulting in death, a count of felony DUI resulting in great bodily injury and driving under suspension, a misdemeanor, S.C. Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Sonny Collins.

Collins said authorities are working on charging Smith with a third count of felony DUI resulting in death, upgrading the previous count of felony DUI resulting in great bodily injury, following Brown’s death.

Fourth Circuit Solicitor Will Rogers said the Darlington County Detention Center has been contacted to place a hold on Smith.

Magistrate Guy Bell set a $150,915 surety bond for Smith’s release, but he remains in custody at the Darlington County Detention Center.

The crash occurred at about 12:41 a.m. at of South Fifth Street and the U.S. 15 Bypass about two miles south of Hartsville, highway patrol Cpl. Paul Brouthers said. A Mazda Four-door driven by Ruby Brown was stopped at a traffic light on the U.S. 15 Bypass when a Chevy Blazer traveling south on the bypass slammed into the rear of the car.

Antonio McFadden, 19, died at the scene. His cousin, Artivas Brown, 17, died July 12 at Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, Hardee said.

One other passenger in the Mazda escaped serious injury.

Smith initially refused transport to a hospital, but later asked to be taken to an area medical center for treatment of chest pain, Brouthers said.

Smith was convicted of DUI in relation to a traffic stop in June 1998 in Chesterfield County, according to a State Law Enforcement Division background check. He paid a $437 fine. In addition, in 2006, Smith was convicted of possession of marijuana in Hartsville and fined $565.

If the case proceeds to a jury trial, Rogers said, it will be up to a judge whether a jury is allowed to learn about any priors involving Smith. Often, prior convictions are deemed too prejudicial and don’t become factors unless there’s a sentencing stage.

The felony DUI case is still under review and his office will pursue appropriate action, Rogers said in a previous interview.