MONCKS CORNER, S.C. — A routine traffic stop nearly turned deadly early Saturday morning when a second impaired driver crashed into a marked patrol vehicle as Berkeley County deputies were arresting another suspected DUI driver.

The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. on June 14 near the intersection of South Live Oak Drive and Wildwood Lane. As deputies were finalizing the arrest of one impaired driver, a vehicle driven by Lauren Michelle Skinner, 32, collided with their patrol car. Deputies were standing just steps away at the time of the crash.

Skinner, of Bridges Lane in Moncks Corner, was arrested by the South Carolina Highway Patrol and charged with Transporting Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle with a Broken Seal, Driving Under Suspension – Second Offense, and Driving Under the Influence – Second Offense. She was issued a total bond of $4,527.50.

Thankfully, no deputies were injured, but Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis emphasized the risk law enforcement officers face daily. “This could have ended with one of our deputies being killed,” Lewis said. “Impaired driving is reckless, selfish, and puts everyone at risk — including those who protect our communities.”

Source: Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office