A man faces multiple charges after a police chase in Lexington County on Monday afternoon.

It started around 2:54 pm at Glenn Road and Gardners Terrace Road, said Gaston Police Chief Stephen Watkins.

Officers spotted a driver in the area they said was driving recklessly.

When officers got behind the vehicle, they ran the license plate and it came back stolen per the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Watkins said.

Officers tried to pull him over but he did not stop.

A chase ensued. During the chase, the car’s tires went flat and the suspect was driving on the rims until he lost control and crashed into a ditch on Gator Road, officers said.

Steven Phillips Jr., 24, was arrested after he crashed the car.

Phillips faces preliminary charges of possession of a stolen car, driving under suspension, failure to stop for blue lights and habitual offender. He was also wanted on a narcotics warrant issued by LCSD, police said.

2 die in head-on collision on I-26

Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher said 2 women died Sunday on I-26 near the 119 Mile Marker at approximately 5:30 am.

According to Fisher, Christian D. Lucille, 34, of Columbia, was travelling west in the wrong direction on I-26 near mile marker 119 when she struck the vehicle driven by Sierra S. Rosario, 17, of Blythewood, head on.

Both Rosario and Lucille were pronounced dead at the scene due to injuries sustained in the accident.

The incident is under investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Man gets 25 years for trafficking heroin

A West Columbia man was found guilty of trafficking heroin.

A media release from the 11th Circuit Solicitor’s Office July 23 stated Jerome Smith, 57, was found guilty of Trafficking Heroin, Distribution of Heroin, and Possession with the Intent to Distribute Heroin in Lexington County.

Following a bench trial before Judge Walton J. McLeod, IV, Smith was sentenced to 25 years for the Trafficking offense, and received concurrent sentences of 10 years for the remaining two offenses.

Smith was charged with selling heroin while parked at the West Columbia Wal-Mart on the morning of October 23, 2019. After arresting Smith at the scene, Special Agents with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Narcotics Division located more heroin, packaged for sale in the same manner. A search of Smith’s West Columbia apartment revealed a stash of heroin of more than 16 grams, $1,800 in cash, a digital scale, and a large assortment of baggies identical to those used for packaging by Smith earlier in the day.

Pedestrian killed on I-26

Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher said a pedestrian was killed when hit by a motor vehicle on July 25 at approximately 12 am on Interstate 26 near the 114 Mile Marker.

According to Fisher, Andre K. Howell, 25, of Clinton, was walking in the roadway to retrieve an item that had fallen from his vehicle when he was struck by a motor vehicle. Howell was pronounced dead at the scene due to his injuries.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating.

Man dies in South Lake Drive crash

Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher has identified the individual who died as a result of a single-vehicle accident that occurred in the 2000 block of South Lake Drive in Lexington at approximately 12:10 pm on Wednesday, July 21.

According to Coroner Fisher, Maurice Valentino Myers, 58, of Lexington was pronounced dead at the scene due to his injuries. Myers, was traveling west on South Lake Drive when his vehicle ran off the left side of the roadway, struck a tree, overturned, and then caught fire.

The incident is under investigation.