Lloyd Shelton Killed in N. Myrtle Beach Pedestrian Accident
Driver charged with felony DUI after two pedestrians struck on North Ocean Boulevard
Lloyd Shelton, 77, of The Plains, Virginia, was killed and another person seriously injured in a pedestrian crash in the 300 block of North Ocean Boulevard in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Saturday, according to police.
Officers arrested the driver of the 2007 Honda Pilot, identified as 43-year-old Dawnya Little of Charlotte, North Carolina, and booked her into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center on charges of felony DUI resulting in death and felony DUI resulting in great bodily injury.
Paramedics transported the victims to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center, where Shelton died and the second pedestrian was treated for a broken leg.
Investigators noted the driver exhibited slurred speech and unsteadiness before refusing a field sobriety test. An alcoholic seltzer was found inside the vehicle, and city surveillance video confirmed the pedestrians were legally crossing in a crosswalk when they were struck.
Little remains jailed on a $300,000 bond while authorities await toxicology results from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
What evidence will investigators use from the North Ocean Boulevard collision?
While criminal charges have been filed against the driver, law enforcement and independent investigators will continue to compile evidence, including the city surveillance footage and pending toxicology reports from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Toxicology analysis revealing blood alcohol concentration or drug presence provides critical evidence in fatal pedestrian crashes, but obtaining preliminary results requires immediate coordination with law enforcement and medical examiners."
"Legal counsel works alongside investigators, obtains toxicology findings as available, and helps surviving families understand results while protecting their compensation rights independent of criminal prosecution," added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
How do pedestrian right-of-way laws apply in South Carolina?
Families navigating the sudden loss of a loved one often face a complex path to justice, especially when the at-fault driver's insurance limits may not fully cover the catastrophic damages of a wrongful death.
According to the South Carolina Traffic Collision Fact Book, the state recorded 187 pedestrian deaths in 2023, reflecting a continued high risk for pedestrians on state roadways.
South Carolina wrongful death statute
Under S.C. Code § 15-51-10, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. South Carolina applies modified comparative fault (51% bar). The statute of limitations is 3 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and mental shock and suffering.
"Toxicology testing reveals impairment, medication interactions, and substances affecting driver capability during catastrophic crashes and collisions," said Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal.
"A legal team supporting bereaved families ensures comprehensive testing occurs, obtains complete lab results, and fully establishes contributing factors," noted Formica, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.