Rock Hill man charged with felony DUI in Myrtle Beach crash that killed Florida pastor

A Rock Hill man was charged with felony driving under the influence resulting in death as a Tampa, Fla., church mourns the loss of their pastor, who was killed Aug. 11 in the Myrtle Beach crash.

James Cory Mcmanus, 34, is charged with several traffic violations, such as improper passing and speeding, in addition to the felony DUI charge in connection with the crash, jail records show.

Mcmanus was arrested the night of the crash and remained jailed Thursday at J. Reuben Long Detention Center. He was awaiting a bond hearing, authorities said.

According to an incident report, police were on the scene of an unrelated vehicle crash nearby when an officer heard a loud noise, and other area police responded to what turned into a deadly crash that happened about 7:50 p.m. Aug. 11 at 33rd Avenue North and U.S. 17 Bypass.

Josue Pimentel, 40, a pastor of a Tampa, Fla., church, suffered serious injuries in the crash and died shortly afterward at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center about 8:44 p.m., authorities said.

Police said Pimentel was a passenger in a 2013 Kia Forte, and the driver of the car, whose information was not available, was turning left from the southbound lane on U.S. 17 Bypass when a 2005 Dodge Ram pickup truck, driven by Mcmanus, struck the passenger side of the Kia.

Mcmanus was illegally traveling through the intersection from a right-turn-only lane and was also traveling too fast for conditions, according to the report.

Officers on the scene said they smelled alcohol coming from Mcmanus and also said his eyes were red and glassy.

Police conducted a field sobriety test and said Mcmanus gave clues he may have been intoxicated during the test.

Mcmanus was taken to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center and consented to giving samples of his blood and urine for alcohol testing, police said.

Mcmanus was charged with felony DUI resulting in death once authorities learned Pimentel died at the hospital.

According to a Facebook page, Pimentel was the pastor of Iglesia De Dios Bethel, and condolences from those who knew him have poured out on the church’s page.

Members of the church’s pastoral team posted this statement on their page recently:

“We suffer and we mourn the loss of our dear pastor, but we celebrate knowing that he has seen the Lord. We are going to honor our pastor Josue continuing as he would like to and we will have our service on Sunday morning at 11:15 in the morning. We will be together with our family of Bethel in communion, in sorrow and in celebration of the life of the great man who was Joshua. We will continue with his legacy and continue in the process that prepares our purpose…”

The Sun News has reached out to the church for comment and will provide more information when it is available.

This story was originally published August 20, 2015 at 3:08 PM with the headline "Rock Hill man charged with felony DUI in Myrtle Beach crash that killed Florida pastor."