HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Georgetown and Horry counties are seeing a drop-off in violent crimes, but DUI arrests are trending upward, 15th Judicial Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson said this week.
“It could be many, many things. More law enforcement attention on it,” Richardson said in his weekly video update to constituents.
On Monday, 49-year-old Nikki Anne Eddy was sentenced to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to felony DUI resulting in the 2021 death of motorcyclist Michael Allen.
Eddy crossed the center line on Highway 90 and struck Allen, 72, head on. Her blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was .148
The crash happened on Sept. 2, 2021, in North Myrtle Beach, where Eddy crossed the center line on Highway 90 and hit a motorcycle head-on, killing the driver, 72-year-old Michael Allen of Galivants Ferry. Eddy’s blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was .148, authorities said.
Richardson said Georgetown County saw 171 DUI arrests in 2022, compared to 314 last year — an 83% jump. In Horry County, the figure rose year-over-year from 1,307 to 1,702 — a 30% uptick.