Man charged in woman's death while fleeing police apologizes

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Will Wildermuth held back tears as he stood in court speaking out against the release of a man who police said killed his sister-in-law.

"My two nephews lost their mother. It's a sad time," he said.

Moments later, Stevie McClinton, 23, turned and apologized to Wildermuth and the family of Virginia Bartell, 72, killed Wednesday in the crash on Heckle Boulevard.

"I just want to tell the victim's family 'I'm sorry,'" McClinton said.

"It's a little too late for that now," Wildermuth replied.

Undercover Rock Hill officers in an unmarked car spotted McClinton Wednesday in a car on Robinson Street. They knew he was wanted and had reports he was selling guns and drugs out of his car.

When he saw them, police said he took off at high speed.  

Officers did not chase him but saw him run the red light on Crawford Road at Heckle Boulevard causing the violent crash.

McClinton hit a Prius with three women inside.  

They were going home to Ridgeway from a golf tournament at Lake Wylie.

Bartell was killed and another passenger broke her neck and is fighting for her life.

The Prius was pushed into a pickup truck driven by Arthur June, 67.

His wife, Ella June, told Channel 9 he was driving home from a store.  

A neighbor came to her door and told her to go up to the corner where the wreck happened.

"I couldn't see him at first. Then I saw him. He was scared and shaking and sweating," June said.

She later learned that a woman had died in the crash.

"Tears came from my eyes because that could've been my husband," Ella June said. "My heart goes out to that family."

Moments after the crash, police said McClinton climbed over the wrecked Prius and ran from the scene.  

Police officers chased him, but they had some unexpected help, police Capt. Mark Bollinger said.

"There were three citizens, they stopped their cars in the roadway, got out and helped the officer chase down and capture Mr. McClinton," Bollinger said. "We thank them."

Bollinger said McClinton assaulted the officers several times, and the passersby helped get control of him.

This happened on McClinton's 23rd birthday.  

Officers found a stolen pistol, an assault rifle, crack and powder cocaine in his car.

In asking for no bond for McClinton, Detective Ryan Thomas spoke to the judge about the victims.

"If ever there were innocent victims of senseless violence, these three ladies were that," Thomas said.

Bartell was a retired elementary school teacher who had taught in North and South Carolina.  She's one of six sisters and also has a brother.

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