3 P.M. SATURDAY UPDATE: Riley Patton appeared in front of a judge Saturday afternoon for a bond hearing.
The judge set a $50,000 bond for the hit and run charge and a $150,000 bond for the felony DUI charge.
He must also have a SCRAM alcohol monitoring device put in his car. No word yet on when his next court appearance will be.
CONWAY AREA, SC (WBTW) – A man has been charged after troopers say a wreck left a pedestrian dead on Highway 544 early Saturday morning.
Riley Patton, 23, of Surfside Beach, is charged with felony DUI involving death and leaving the scene of a collision involving death, according to Corporal Sonny Collins with South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Coastal Carolina University Assistant Athletic Director Kevin Davis confirmed to News13 Patton was a member of the CCU footbal team in the fall of 2019. Davis said he no longer has eligibility, but is still a student at the school.
University spokesperson Martha Hunn said he was restricted from campus upon notice of arrest. She said that’s a measure taken ‘during the University administrative process to protect all parties and the integrity of the investigation.’
The wreck happened around 1 a.m. Saturday morning on Highway 544 near Cabots Creek Road.
That’s where a Ford truck was in the median to help another vehicle, Collins said. A GMC truck allegedly hit the Ford, and then a pedestrian standing outside it.
Highway Patrol says the GMC continued down the road to Peachtree Grocery, where Patton was eventually taken into custody.
The pedestrian was killed as a result of the crash, Collins said. The Horry County Coroner’s Office identified the pedestrian as Timothy “Timmy” Shulkcum, 55, of Myrtle Beach.
Patton was booked into J. Reuben Long around 5:30 Saturday morning, online records show. He has not been released.
Highway 544 was blocked for some time while crews worked to clear the scene.
The wreck remains under investigation by South Carolina Highway Patrol. Count on News13 for updates.