Man faces drug, weapon, other charges after deadly Rock Hill crash

Police have charged a man with drug, weapons and other crimes in a three-car crash in Rock Hill that killed a 72-year-old woman Wednesday.

The crash happened around 4:20 p.m. Wednesday at Heckle Boulevard and Crawford Road, and involved a 2013 Toyota Prius, a 1986 Chevrolet pickup and a 1973 Buick, according to Lance Cpl. Gary Miller of the S.C. Highway Patrol.

Virginia Bartell, 72, of Ridgeway, was a front-seat passenger in the Prius, according to York County Coroner Sabrina Gast. She was extricated and airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, where she died.

The crash happened when the driver of the Buick, 23-year-old Stevie McClinton, ran a red light and went into the intersection, crashing into the Prius and pushing it into the pickup, Miller said.

Rock Hill officers were trying to stop McClinton on Robinson Street when he sped off, according to Capt. Mark Bollinger, a Rock Hill Police spokesman.

McClinton was wanted by the S.C. Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, and investigators had information he was possibly selling drugs and firearms out of his vehicle.

When officers activated their blue lights to stop McClinton on Robinson Street, he sped off and ran the stop sign and Robinson and Crawford Road, turning right toward Heckle Boulevard, Bollinger said.

The officers turned off their lights and siren, turned right onto Crawford Road and were drivign toward Heckle when they saw the Buick disregard a red traffic light and crash into the Toyota Prius and pickup truck.

As the officers approached the crash, McClinton got out of the car and fled on foot, Bollinger said.

“After a short foot pursuit, he was caught by the investigator where he began to actively resist and punch the officer,” Bollinger said. “Several civilians came to the assistance of the officer and helped him get Mr. McClinton into custody.”

Inside McClinton’s trunk, police say they found “a large amount of drugs” and two firearms.

He has been charged with failure to stop for blue lights with death, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in great bodily injury, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury, possession with intent to distribute ecstasy-second offense, resisting arrest, trafficking cocaine-second offense, possession of marijuana-second offense, possession of a stolen pistol and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

McClinton complained of injuries he sustained in the crash, and was transported by EMS for treatment, police said.

The rush-hour crash shut down the intersection of Heckle Boulevard and Crawford Road for several hours Wednesday afternoon.

This story was originally published September 8, 2016 at 8:40 AM with the headline "Man faces drug, weapon, other charges after deadly Rock Hill crash."