Proposed bill to allow bystanders to rescue children trapped in overheating cars without consequences
South Carolina’s House has proposed a bill that would allow bystanders to save children and disabled adults trapped in cars without consequences, The State reported.
Since 1997, 10 South Carolina children have died due to being left unattended in overheating cars. Nationwide, 31 children died last year — three were from South Carolina.
South Carolina already has a “Good Samaritan” law that protects those who help accidents or fire victims from lawsuits.
Rep. Bill Sandifer said that while the “Good Samaritan” law protects assisting others, the new proposal would stop lawsuits based on property damage created when rescuing a child or disabled adult.
The proposal was unanimously approved in the House’s labor, commerce and industry committee on Tuesday. It will soon be brought to the House floor.
— Madeleine Collins, News Editor
Convicted felon leads Kershaw County police officers on car chase
Stephen Earl Wood Jr., a convicted felon, led Kershaw County deputies on a high speed chase late Monday night, the State reported.
Wood and Dustin Lee Blair, 26, were stopped a street light for a while, prompting a deputy to notice them. Blair left the car to close the trunk, and dropped what appeared to be a package of drugs.
The deputy turned on his lights, and Blair escaped to the woods across the street, while Wood engaged the officer in a car chase.
Wood sped toward US-1, at times crossing into the wrong lane. Wood ultimately lost control of the vehicle and wrecked. Wood was arrested for failure to stop for police and driving without a license.
Woods is being held at the Kershaw County Detention Center, where he awaits a bond hearing. No charges were filed against Blair because the drugs were not found at the scene.
— Madeleine Collins, News Editor
Camera with last moments of newborn child stolen
A Charlotte photographer's camera containing the only photographs of a family's deceased son was stolen from her garage, WIS-TV reported.
Faith Massey, the photographer, has insurance that can replace the equipment, she cannot recover the images saved on the camera.
As part of the “Now I lay me down to sleep” organization, Massey takes photos of newborns that will not likely live long enough to leave the hospital.
April McLean's son, who died just thirty minutes after he was born, was photographed shortly before his death. The pictures were of the child and his family, his first bath and of him and his mother.
McLean asked that the thief return at least the memory card so that she can have the photos of the first and last moments she had with her son.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are investigating.
— Madeleine Collins, News Editor