A three-car collision on Highway 300 left two dead, one charged, and several injured on the evening of Friday, Jan. 20. This marked the county’s first traffic fatality this year.
Michael Kearse Mathias Jr., 26, of Ulmer, was charged with two counts of felony driving under the influence resulting in death by a magistrate judge in Barnwell County on Jan. 23.
Brandon Davis, 37, of Springfield, Ga. was pronounced dead at the scene of the Jan. 20 accident, and Hunter Scharber, 27, of Bamberg died from injuries at Augusta University Medical Center the following night.
Shortly after the time of the accident, “a search warrant was conducted for the blood” of Mathias to test to determine inebriation, according to the arrest warrant.
At the bond hearing, Mathias' attorney Carson Alexander, who is standing in for Strom Thurmond Jr., stated, "This case is still very much in limbo, the investigation is still very much ongoing, it is still very early in this process. I have heard no evidence so far of Mr. Mathias drinking that night."
Near Allens Chapel Road in Ulmer at 8:30 p.m., three vehicles were traveling east: a 2015 Chevy Equinox SUV driven by a 54-year-old female from Ulmer in front, a 2015 Ford F-250 with a 26-year-old female driver from Fairfax and a 26-year-old male passenger from Sycamore in the middle, and a 2015 Ford F-150 containing five people in the rear.
When the F-250 went to pass the Chevy Equinox, so did the F-150. This resulted in the F-150 colliding with the F-250 which subsequently hit the Chevy Equinox.
The F-150 then ran off the right side of the roadway and overturned, hitting a tree in the process.
The People-Sentinel has received varying accounts of the sequence of events, and the case is still being investigated by the South Carolina Highway Patrol’s (SCHP) Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT). This is the sequence of events that was relayed by the SCHP Victim’s Advocate at Mathias’ bond hearing on Jan. 23.
In the F-150 were five individuals: Mathias, who was the driver, his 20-year-old brother, Drake, 36-year-old Justin Carrigan from Georgia, Davis, and Scharber.
The driver and passenger of the F-250 and the driver of the Chevy Equinox both sustained minor injuries that were treated at the scene.
Mathias sustained a broken cheek and nose, several broken ribs, over 40 stitches and staples in his face, various cuts, and a lacerated kidney.
According to the SCHP Victim’s Advocate at Mathias’ bond hearing, Davis, Scharber, and Carrigan were ejected from the vehicle.
The SCHP Victim’s Advocate continued to explain how the evening transpired; Carrigan sent a text to Davis asking him if he wanted to go quail hunting to which Davis agreed. Carrigan picked him up from his home, and they then met with Mathias and others.
At Mathias’ bond hearing, he was supported by both his own family and the parents of Scharber.
Scharber’s father asked the court that Mathias be able to attend the services for his son. Scharber and Mathias were close friends throughout their lives.
Mathias was granted a $100,000 surety bond - $50,000 for each charge with a 10% cash option. The terms of bond include a SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitor (CAM) device monitoring location and alcohol consumption, house arrest, and a no contact order to one of the victim's families.
The SCRAM CAM will be paid for at Mathias’ expense and estimated to be roughly $260 per month. While on house arrest, he can attend appointments with his legal counsel and doctors as well as attend church and work.
The family of Davis as well as the state recommended Mathias be denied bond.
Brandon Davis’ mother, Jackie, and wife, Melissa, gave victims impact statements at the bond hearing.
“I’m here today as a voice for my son who could not be here due to the actions of Mr. Mathias driving under the influence,” said Jackie between tears. “The actions of Mr. Mathias has caused a gaping hole in our lives that cannot ever, ever be filled.”
Kimberly Cockrell, Victims Services Manager at Mothers Against Drunk Driving, spoke in support of the Davis family and echoed Mathias’ bond being denied.
“On behalf of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, as well as the family members you see here, as well as Cade, age 20, Abby, age 17, and Rylee, age 6, who will never see their father again. We do request that bond be denied,” said Cockrell.
A Celebration of Life for Scharber will be held on Saturday, Jan. 28 at the family's home. Scharber is an organ donor who will be celebrated for sharing gifts of life to others.
Mathias has an initial appearance set for March 6 at the Barnwell County Courthouse.
