A South Carolina driver has been charged with a DUI causing great bodily injury after his SUV crossed multiple lanes of the Gervais Street bridge in Columbia on Sunday night and struck a pedestrian on the sidewalk. The impact did not end with the strike. The pedestrian was carried along the bridge railing and went over the side.
According to the Columbia Police Department, the SUV had been heading west across the bridge when it struck a curb. The vehicle crossed multiple lanes of traffic before mounting the sidewalk area. That is where it met the pedestrian.
The pedestrian sustained serious injuries from the impact and the fall. Though they were not identified to the public, they were given medical treatment at the scene before being taken to a hospital. As of Monday, they still remain in the hospital being cared for.
The driver, identified by police as William Joseph Livingston, 30, was arrested after officers reported signs of impairment. He’s now been charged with driving under the influence resulting in great bodily injury. As a result, he’s been held on a $1 million bond, which you’ll recognize is a high amount for what is typically a DUI case.
What Happened According to the Police
According to the Columbia Police Department, the crash occurred at about 7:45 p.m. on Sunday, May 31, on the Gervais Street bridge, which carries traffic across the Congaree River. A preliminary investigation found that an SUV driven by William Joseph Livingston, 30, had been traveling west across the bridge when it struck a curb, crossed multiple lanes of traffic, and went into a sidewalk area on the bridge. A pedestrian was on the sidewalk when the SUV reached it.
The SUV struck the pedestrian on the sidewalk, according to the agency. The impact caused the pedestrian to be carried along the bridge railing before being thrown over the side, the department said. The victim landed on the riverbank under the bridge.
They were given medical treatment at the scene and then transported to a hospital, where they remained under medical care as of Monday, police said. The pedestrian has not been publicly identified.
The Arrest
Officers at the scene reported observing signs of impairment in Livingston after the crash, according to the Columbia Police Department. He was arrested and has been charged with driving under the influence resulting in great bodily injury.
Typically, these high bond amounts are set when DUIs or other crashes ultimately end in a death or other bodily injury. That was the case with this driver and their actions. Should he need to be bailed out, he’s going to have to put up that massive fine.