News Summary
A memorial service for Kelly Farmer, a public works employee and musician, took place in Summerville following his tragic hit-and-run death. Over 100 attended to honor his life and raise awareness about the rising issue of hit-and-run incidents in the region. Farmer’s family emphasizes accountability for the driver responsible, as investigations into countless similar cases continue, highlighting the community’s call for improved road safety.
Summerville – A memorial service for Kelly Farmer, a public works employee and beloved local musician, took place on May 10, 2025, at St. John The Beloved’s Madden Hall in Summerville. Farmer was killed in a tragic hit-and-run incident on April 13, 2025, while walking on Dorchester Road.
The service was attended by over 100 family members, friends, and community members who gathered to remember Farmer as a caring, outgoing individual who always looked for the positives in life. His family continues to honor his memory while seeking accountability for the driver who left the scene of the accident.
The issue of hit-and-run incidents is significant in the tri-county area, where over 100 people have died in such accidents in the past decade. Between January 2015 and May 2025, there were recorded 103 fatal hit-and-run incidents. Of these, charges were filed in 73 cases, but approximately 30 fatalities remain unsolved as of now. Cpl. Nick Pye from the South Carolina Highway Patrol emphasized that every case is investigated using available resources until the responsible party is identified and brought to justice.
Community Call for Action
Katie Farmer, Kelly’s sister, expressed disbelief that someone could abandon another person after harming them. She urged the importance of remaining at the scene to assist others and allow law enforcement to handle the situation properly.
Series of Hit-and-Runs
The community is grappling with a rise in hit-and-run incidents, which have a commonality in the reasons drivers may flee, including driving without a valid license or insurance, having outstanding warrants, or acting out of panic. Witnesses are vital in these cases, as the police encourage anyone who sees suspicious vehicle damage or relevant details to report them.
In line with this problem, another incident occurred recently when Zinja Devine, a 61-year-old man, was killed in a hit-and-run on Interstate 26 shortly after midnight on May 23, 2025. The ongoing investigations highlight the challenges law enforcement faces in solving these cases, although some succeed when leads become available, such as in the case of truck driver William Bennett, who was killed in March.
Fatalities and Road Safety
Many pedestrian fatalities arise from individuals crossing roads in unsafe manners, frequently not using crosswalks or signals. An analysis of pedestrian safety indicated that the five deadliest roads for pedestrians in Charleston County include Dorchester Road, Remount Road, Rivers Avenue, Ashley Phosphate Road, and U.S. Highway 17.
South Carolina ranks 17th in the nation for annual hit-and-run fatalities per capita, reporting a total of 374 fatal crashes due to hit-and-runs from 2013 to 2025. The most lethal year was 2021, when the state recorded 53 fatalities due to these incidents. However, hit-and-runs constitute only 4.3% of all fatal crashes in the state between 2015 and 2023.
Fleeing the scene of a fatal accident can result in severe penalties, potentially leading to a prison sentence of up to 25 years and a fine of $25,000. Notably, in the last decade, no one in the tri-county area has been sentenced to the maximum penalty for such actions.
Conclusion
The memorial for Kelly Farmer not only celebrated his life but also brought attention to the ongoing crisis of hit-and-run accidents in the region. With the community’s support and heightened awareness, there is hope for improved accountability and road safety, ensuring that the memories of those lost are honored through proactive measures.
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Additional Resources
- ABC News: Man Charged in Attempted Murder Hit-and-Run
- Wikipedia: Hit-and-run
- Post and Courier: Fatal Hit-and-Runs in Charleston Area
- Google Search: Hit-and-Run Charleston 2025
- ABC News 4: North Charleston Police Find Vehicle in Hit-and-Run
- Google Scholar: Hit-and-Run Accidents South Carolina
- Live 5 News: Families of Charleston Hit-and-Run Victims Seek Information
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Accident Statistics
Author: STAFF HERE CHARLESTON
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