Search over for ‘armed & dangerous’ hit-and-run driver after SC man is killed, officials say
A South Carolina man was killed Monday in a hit-and-run crash and police arrested the driver who left the scene in Georgia, according to the Oconee County officials said.
On Wednesday night, the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office identified 43-year-old Westminster resident William Barney Drummond as the driver. Drummond, who the sheriff’s office called “armed and dangerous,” will be charged with murder, the release said.
Drummond was arrested without incident Thursday with a firearm found on him in Gainesville, Ga., by the Gainesville Police Department, the sheriff’s office said.
Devon James Turner, a 34-year-old Westminster resident, is the pedestrian who died, Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis said Tuesday.
The collision happened at about 3:50 p.m. in Oconee County, said Cpl. Nick Pye of the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Turner was heading north as he walked on the shoulder of S.C. 11, according to Pye. Near the intersection with East Spearman Road Turner was hit by a black-colored 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 pickup truck that was driving south on S.C. 11, Pye said.
Turner died at the scene, while the Chevy drove away, according to Addis.
No other injuries were reported.
At 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, the Oconee County sheriff’s office said the Chevy pickup involved in the crash was located, but no arrests had been made.
The wreck continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol and sheriff’s office.
Anyone with information about Drummond, or the collision, or the vehicle and driver involved, is asked to call the Highway Patrol at 803-896-9621 or 800-768-1503, CrimeStoppers at 844-71-CRIME or submit an online tip. Tips can also be texted to *HP.
Through Sunday, 67 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2025, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, at least 948 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported.
At least one person has died in an Oconee County crash in 2025, according to DPS data. There were 15 deaths in the county in 2024, DPS reported.
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This story was originally published February 11, 2025 at 1:59 PM.
