Traffic accidents within the past five days in Berkeley County claimed the lives of two Andrews residents.
According to the Berkeley County Coroner’s Office, 54-year-old Julian Tanner of Andrews died in a two-car crash that occurred at about 5:40 p.m. Wednesday on Highway 17A near Moncks Corner.
S.C. Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Bob Beres said Tanner was northbound in his Mitsubishi when a Ford Crown Victoria driven by Jeremy Schaffer of Bonneau crossed the center line and hit his car.
Schaffer was still hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries Thursday night, Beres said.
He is charged with felony driving under the influence. No information about his blood alcohol content was available.
The second accident occurred at about 2 a.m. Saturday, also on Highway 17 A.
Berkeley County Deputy Coroner Bill Salisbury identified the victim as 16-year-old Robert Johnson. He died from his injuries about 9 a.m. Sunday.
He was reportedly a passenger in the vehicle of which the driver lost control and left the roadway, striking a tree. The name and condition of the driver was unavailable Sunday.
: 12/6/2008
As a former neighbor and fellow employee of Jay Tanner, I can say that we have lost a friend and humanitarian. From: D.H. Columbia, S.C.
: 12/4/2008
I knew T.K for only a couple of mouths but I knew he was something special. REST IN PEACE BROTHER!
: 12/4/2008
Thank you all for the support you've shown to my little cousin Robert. And condolences to everyone else who recently lost someone. It's going to be hard without you. We grew up together. Man I always wanted that Ninja Turtle you had. I can't imagine what your father's going through, I mean we buried your grandfather a few month ago. You and Dame were like twins. To see him without you is unimaginable. Little cousin, you are truly gone too soon. I and every one else will miss you. Love you Robert.
: 12/3/2008
The drugs and alcohol need to stop
: 12/3/2008
My heart aches for both of these families. I did not know Robert Johnson or Julian Tanner. However, I went to school with Mr. Tanner's daughter. They are good people and this is such a sad tragedy. I hope God blesses both of these families. They need support and love at this difficult time. I will keep them in my prayers.
: 12/3/2008
Every story like this contains the words 'Was not wearing seat belt'
: 12/2/2008
I didnt really know Robert, but i did know that he was a thoughtful and caring person. When you passed him in the hall ways, he was the quiet one. WE all will miss him. R.i.P TK [love u lil buddy]
: 12/1/2008
I was told by the SC Governors Office recently that the DUI laws were made tougher. I AGREE WITH THE OTHERS ABOVE, THEY ARE NOT TOUGH ENOUGH. DUI offenders simply get off with premeditated murder knowing that drinking and driving is against the law and selfish. My ex-wife has SIX DUI convictions and she keeps on getting driver's licenses as the DUIs are in different states. My second job is trying to protect my/our kids from her alcoholism and driving. DMVs keep sending me the same old good intentions when I inform them to be on the look out for this person, and yet, the DMVs keep giving her drivers licenses. I have paper work to show that the ex committed fraud in stating that she had no recent DUIs on her VA DMV application. The VA DMV stated that it's not worth pursuing. No political figure, County, state seems to be willing to take a stand as for example 3 DUI strikes/convictions and your out (loss of car and license for life) is easy to inact, just like 3 criminal strikes in other states. My prayers and sympathy’s to the family’s who lost a loved one.
: 12/1/2008
MY HEART GOES OUT TO ROBERT'S FAMILY. I ATTENDED SCHOOL WITH HIM && HE WAS MY BUDDY. HE WAS VERY RESPECTFUL && QUIET. I WILL REMEMBER HIS SMILE AND HIM LAUGHING. R.I.P. T.K.!! ROCK THE HEAVENS BABY!!!
: 12/1/2008
I have read about so many deaths in the last few months all of them involving someone who decided to get behind the wheel of a vehicle while drinking. As a result of their carelessness an innocent individual was killed - in this case it was a man on his way home after a long day at work. He will never share another Thanksgiving meal with his family. Not so long ago Stone Miller made the same decision and it cost him his friends life. WAKE UP PEOPLE - be responsible for your actions. DUI kills - perhaps stonger penalties are called for - longer jail time. Something has got to shake people up. It will be interesting to see the outcome of these two cases.
: 12/1/2008
It makes me so mad that people haven't learned yet that DUI kills people---young and old---I've come to a point that I think people doesn't care about the DUI rate in our state or the laws would be much more severe. Go ahead, drive at your own risk. Look at the time 5:40 pm. Our children are at risk here. WAKE UP PEOPLE, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH....HOW MUCH IS YOUR LOVE ONES LIFE WORTH? DUI isn't a sickness, It's stupidity. I have no ties with the Tanner family, But I do feel their pain...I've seen what DUI does to peoples lives.....it's sad, so sad......The DRUNK DRIVER seems to always survive. Anytime someone is killed in a car crash it's sad. May God bless the Tanner and Johnson families.