Police | Fatal Myrtle Beach crash that killed a pedestrian under investigation

Police

MYRTLE BEACH

Police investigate fatal crash

Myrtle Beach police are investigating a collision that killed a pedestrian on 21st Avenue North near Broadway at the Beach.

The crash happened around 7 p.m. when a female pedestrian crossing the street at Greens Boulevard and 21st Avenue North was struck by a Ford Explorer traveling westbound, said Sgt. John Bertang with the Myrtle Beach Police Department.

Horry County Coroner Robert Edge said the 20-year-old woman was a student from Russia in Myrtle Beach on an exchange program. She lived off Greens Boulevard and is believed to have been on her way to work at Broadway at the Beach, Edge said.

The woman, whose name was not released because her family had not been notified, died from internal injuries, Edge said. He said she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bertang said no one was injured in the vehicle. It was not clear how many people were in the vehicle.

The investigation is ongoing.

GEORGETOWN

Police search for second escape suspect

Georgetown Police are searching for a second man wanted in connection with an escape that occurred Monday, said Capt. Nelson Brown with the Georgetown Police Department.

Police say Dexter Nigel Stephens of Branchville was the driver of the car stopped by police on Monday afternoon.

Police were arresting the passenger of the car, Derrick Rivera of Georgetown, on charges related to an armed robbery when Stephens put the car in drive and sped off, Brown said.

A warrant has been issued for Stephens' arrest. He is being charged with child endangerment, assault and battery and failure to stop for blue lights, Brown said.

Stephens is being charged with child endangerment because there was an infant in the back seat of the car at the time, and with assault and battery because the officer making the arrest was hit when the car sped off, Brown said.

Rivera, 20, was quickly found in a nearby home, but he escaped again as he was being transferred to the Georgetown County Detention Center on Monday.

Rivera was recaptured early Tuesday. He remained jailed Thursday morning under a $50,000 bail for the escape charge.

An officer has also resigned following the escape at the jail.

Brown declined Wednesday to release the officer's name and said that the officer's resignation had nothing to do with the escape.

The officer resigned for personal reasons, Brown said. He said there will be no disciplinary actions against any officers as they didn't find any violations at this time.

Anyone with information on Stephens' whereabouts is asked to call the Georgetown Police Department at 545-4300.

SURFSIDE BEACH

Police to launch traffic safety checkpoint

The Surfside Beach Police in conjunction with the 15th Circuit Law Enforcement Network will conduct a traffic safety checkpoint today, according to a news release from the Surfside Beach Police Department.

The checkpoint will be conducted between 8 and 11 p.m. in the 1100 block of Glenns Bay Road.

MYRTLE BEACH

Authorities search for robbery suspect

Horry County police are seeking information about an armed man who robbed a liquor store in the Myrtle Beach area, said Sgt. Robert Kegler.

On Wednesday, police released a surveillance photo of the suspect and are asking for assistance in identifying the man, Kegler said. Anyone with information about the man can call Horry County police detectives at 915-5350, or to remain anonymous, call 915-8477.

Police were called at 4:30 p.m. Friday to the store at 944 Lake Arrowhead Road for an armed robbery, Kegler said. The clerk told police a man entered the store and demanded money.

The man got about $700 in cash and ran out of the store, Kegler said.

CONWAY

Pathologist: Buried skull used for teaching

A forensic pathologist ruled that a human skull found near Conway High School was once used for educational purposes and not part of a crime, according to Catina Hipp, Conway police public information officer.

The skull was found by Horry Electric utility workers about 1 p.m. Wednesday near the school at 2301 Church St., Hipp said. Workers were locating underground wiring when they found the skull buried in the dirt.

Police took the skull to a local pathologist for examination and he ruled it was human, but had been used for educational purposes, Hipp said. The skull had a precision cut on the top and screws holding the jaw bone in place.

Conway police are investigating the circumstances of the skull being taken from the school and buried behind the building.

Local

GEORGETOWN

City hires Tucker as new planning director

The city of Georgetown has hired a new planning director.

Elizabeth Tucker has been selected as the director of Building and Planning. Tucker most recently worked as a planner for Georgetown County.

The last planning director, Sabrina Morris, resigned in May 2009.