Kershaw County deputies almost involved in two head-on collisions in under a week with drunk drivers

KERSHAW COUNTY, SC During the past week, Kershaw County deputies were able to avoid two head-on collisions with drunk drivers and, in both cases, were able to charge the drivers.

Sheriff Jim Matthews said the first incident occurred on Feb. 3 on U.S. 601. A deputy was traveling northbound at around 10:45 p.m. when he observed a vehicle driving south in the northbound lane. The highway, located in Lugoff is a four-lane highway separated by a median.

Matthews said the deputy was able to avoid being hit and eventually stopped the vehicle before it hit any other motorists on the highway. Cecile Townsend, of Sumter, was arrested in that case and charged with driving under the influence.

The second incident occurred just two days after on U.S. 521 near Rembert. Matthews said a Kershaw County deputy was nearly run off of the roadway after a vehicle allegedly being driven by Thomas McCray, of Sumter, was coming at him head on. The deputy was able to get McCray to stop the vehicle and charged him with driving under the influence and driving under suspension.

Matthews said McCray has previously been arrested for breach of peace, DUI, burglary, grand larceny, public disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, assault and battery, shoplifting and numerous narcotics charges.

Townsend has no previous arrests, Matthews said.

Since its inception in 2011, Matthews said the Kershaw County traffic unit has made over 800 DUI arrests.

This story was originally published February 8, 2016 at 11:41 AM with the headline "Kershaw County deputies almost involved in two head-on collisions in under a week with drunk drivers."