Man Faces Felony DUI Charges After Fatal Motorcycle Accident in South Carolina

According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS), well over 100 people die each year due to fatal motorcycle accidents in the state. This underscores the dangerous nature of these vehicles, but riders are not always to blame for their own deaths. A recent fatal motorcycle accident in South Carolina shows that sometimes, negligent and intoxicated drivers cause riders to lose their lives. If your family is grieving the loss of a loved one under similar circumstances, you may want to speak with an injury attorney.

Man Faces DUI Charges After Drunk Crash Kills His Female Passenger

In March of 2026, WMBF News reported that a man was facing felony DUI charges after a fatal motorcycle accident in Horry County. Officials say that the man was driving his motorcycle with a female passenger on the back when he veered off the road, crossed into oncoming traffic, and crashed. His female passenger suffered fatal, traumatic injuries in the accident.

The man faces charges of DUI resulting in death. He also faces a separate charge of leaving the scene of a fatal accident, which suggests he tried to flee after the accident. However, no news sources specified how he tried to flee or the manner of his arrest. After posting a $20,000 bond, the defendant secured his pre-trial release. As of this writing, he is under house arrest.

Can I Sue the Person Driving the Motorcycle if My Deceased Loved One Was the Passenger? 

Families who have lost their loved ones can potentially sue the drivers of motorcycles. If your loved one was riding on the back of a motorcycle when a negligent rider crashed the vehicle, a lawsuit against the driver could help cover unpaid medical bills, funeral expenses, missed future wages, grief, and other damages.

A driver is always legally responsible for the safety of their passengers. This applies to motorcycles as well as passenger vehicles, and riders must operate motorcycles while under the legal limit. Intoxication is an obvious form of negligence, and this can lead to a valid wrongful death lawsuit.

That being said, intoxication is not the only example of negligence. A driver could also become liable for the death of their passenger if they become distracted or sleep-deprived while in control of their motorcycle. Negligence may also include speeding and traffic violations such as running a red light or failing to yield. Speak with a lawyer to determine whether a wrongful death lawsuit might be possible.

Can a Motorcycle Accident Attorney in South Carolina Help Me? 

A motorcycle accident attorney in South Carolina may be able to help if you’re mourning the loss of a loved one after a fatal accident. These incidents can easily lead to wrongful death lawsuits, especially if the person who caused the crash was intoxicated at the time. For further guidance, consider speaking with Mickelsen & Dalton, LLC today.

Sources: 

scdps.sc.gov/motorcycle-safety

wmbfnews.com/2026/03/11/man-charged-with-felony-dui-deadly-aynor-area-motorcycle-crash/