A tragic accident in Greenville County, South Carolina, has left the community in shock after four people lost their lives in a devastating crash on Tuesday night. The incident happened on Cooley Bridge Road, and details are now emerging about what took place.
It all began around 9:22 p.m. when a 911 call alerted emergency responders about a collision. Authorities say the victims were in an SUV, backing out of a private driveway, when they were hit by a BMW sedan. The driver of the BMW was allegedly under the influence at the time of the crash.
The victims included four individuals, whose identities have now been confirmed. Two of the victims were named on Wednesday morning: Audrey Marie Ross, 29, from Donalds, South Carolina, and Amanda Lynn Leroux, 30, from North Carolina. Later, on Friday night, officials identified the other two victims as Joshua Allen Ward, 37, also from North Carolina, and Jade Evelyn Bruton, 27, from Pelzer, South Carolina.
The coroner’s office provided details about their causes of death. Amanda Leroux and Jade Bruton both suffered from multiple blunt force injuries. Audrey Ross tragically died from blunt force trauma to her chest. Joshua Ward’s cause of death was smoke inhalation and severe burns. The coroner ruled all their deaths as accidental.
The driver of the BMW, 31-year-old Nicholas Meeks from Belton, South Carolina, has been arrested and faces serious charges. He’s been charged with four counts of felony DUI resulting in death and driving with a suspended license. Meeks is currently in custody at the Greenville County Detention Center and is being held without bond.
This heartbreaking incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of driving under the influence. The families and friends of the victims are left grieving an unimaginable loss, and the community continues to mourn the lives cut short on what should have been an ordinary evening.
