Columbia, S.C. (WACH) — The Richland County Sheriff’s Department reported that the driver involved in the crash that left Master Trooper Wayne LaBounty in serious condition has not been charged and was released from the scene following the investigation.
Former trooper and current State Representative Chris Wooten highlighted the dangers troopers face, citing a troubling trend of reckless driving. “One was a drunken driver, one was distracted and had fallen asleep, and this one was due obviously to lack of attention,” Wooten said. He emphasized the importance of road safety awareness, saying, “The lack of attention for folks on the road, that’s the major cause.”
South Carolina Highway Patrol has been spreading awareness surrounding the issue for years. This video they uploaded back in June of 2025 shows dash and body cam video of the moments troopers were nearly struck while investigating a traffic collision and a traffic stop. While the two troopers in the shared video were not injured, the same cannot be said for three troopers in the past month…