Rock Hill man drove drunk 3 times: The 4th time 1 died, 2 hurt. What’s next?
A Rock Hill man with three previous drunk driving convictions was sentenced to 17 years in prison for a fourth DUI that ended in a 2019 fatal crash.
In the last incident, one person was killed and two others were injured, according to prosecutors and court records.
Tyler James Cummings, 26, pleaded guilty late Wednesday in York County criminal court to felony DUI with death, two counts of felony DUI with great bodily injury, and habitual traffic offender causing death when a license was revoked, court documents show.
Cummings is not eligible for parole, according to prosecutors and court documents.
Cummings accepted a plea agreement with a range of eight to 17 years in prison for the death of a Union County man and the injuries to two others in a crash in July 2019, said Willy Thompson, 16th Circuit Deputy Solicitor. In the 2019 fatal crash, Cummings crossed the center line on McConnells Highway near Brattonsville Road and collided with a 2007 Honda carrying five people, police and prosecutors said.
Thompson said Kevin Brackett, 16th Circuit Solicitor, argued in court Wednesday that Cummings deserved the maximum sentence under the negotiations because of the severity of the crimes and Cummings’ history of repeat drunk driving.
South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Dan Hall agreed, sentencing Cummings to the maximum penalty under the negotiated deal, court documents show.
Cummings had past DUI convictions in 2015, and twice in 2017, according to court records and State Law Enforcement Division documents.
This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 11:16 AM.
