ROCK HILL, S.C. — A Fort Mill man is facing an upgraded charge of felony driving under the influence resulting in death following a fatal multi-vehicle collision on Celanese Road near Interstate 77 in Rock Hill, police said.
Joel Smith, 22, was served with the new charge in connection with the Feb. 27 crash that killed a female driver, Rock Hill police said.
Investigators with the Rock Hill Police Department Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team issued the charge after receiving a toxicology report. Police said the results indicated Smith was under the influence of drugs that rendered him unable to safely operate his vehicle at the time of the crash.
Smith was transported from the Moss Justice Detention Center to the Rock Hill Jail, where police served him with the upgraded charge. Authorities initially arrested the Fort Mill resident on the day of the crash and jailed him for reckless homicide and operating an uninsured vehicle, police said.
According to police, the crash occurred at 3:17 p.m. when a Hyundai Sonata driven by Smith exited southbound Interstate 77 at a high rate of speed. Smith lost control of the vehicle, which became airborne as it crossed the median on Celanese Road.
The airborne vehicle collided with a Ford Ranger traveling on Celanese Road. Smith’s car continued out of control and struck a Toyota Sienna.
Emergency medical services responded to the scene and transported the driver of the Toyota Sienna to Piedmont Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
The name of the deceased was not released.
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