Warning tickets given by LPD during memorial ride

By Kaye Collins

The spontaneous Memorial Ride for the Green Sea Floyds High School students who tragically passed away a week prior featured trucks and cars packed with friends wishing to honor their memory by cruising through Loris on Highway 701 on Thursday, July 17.

The ride went awry when they stopped in the Hills Parking Lot and revved their engines, doing donuts in the lot and spin-outs. One vehicle was spinning their tires generating smoke that filled the parking lot, making visibility nearly impossible.

The drivers headed towards Speedway on Highway 701, where they once more revved their engines, producing clouds of smoke and performing donuts.

The Loris Police Department received multiple reports indicating that drivers were creating hazardous conditions on the roads. Citizens noted that teens were seen sitting on the passenger windows, leaning out of the vehicles.

Chief Gary Buley stated that the LPD had just completed a meeting to promote Operation Slow Down when calls came into the department.

Operation Slow Down is an annual week-long campaign in South Carolina aimed at reducing speeding and related traffic accidents. The campaign focuses on increased law enforcement presence, education and public awareness regarding the dangers of excessive speed. The LPD, Horry County Police Department and the Horry County Sheriff’s Officers combined efforts to monitor state highways to target speeders. Public awareness highlights the dangers of speeding and the importance to adhere to the speed limit. Other states participating are Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee in the campaign that typically runs for a week during the “100 Deadly Days of Summer” where increased traffic and accidents occur according to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety. The main purpose is to reduce speed-related crashes and fatalities by encouraging drivers to slow down and obey traffic laws.

What were the teenagers doing that caused the LPD to become involved? Reckless driving, kids sitting in the passenger windows hanging out and shouting who they were honoring on this ride through town. “The kids were issued warning tickets,” Chief Buley said, “it couldn’t have happened at a better time. This gave us the opportunity to educate the teens of safety in driving the speed limit and following the laws of the road.” One vehicle was not covered by insurance and had no license plate was towed, however, Buley stated no ticket was issued.

Buley clarified that if someone wishes to organize a memorial ride involving multiple vehicles, they should reach out to the LPD in advance. The department will make every effort to facilitate the procession through the stoplights, provided they are available to help. This way, the police will be informed that a line of vehicles will be traveling through the streets of Loris, serving as a courtesy for the department to be aware of the ride.

A number of residents took to Facebook to inquire about the situation, specifically regarding the smoke in the parking lot, the significant police presence at Speedway, and the reckless driving by youths on Highway 701. It was quickly clarified that a memorial ride had escalated into dangerous driving, with kids leaning out of windows and property being damaged due to burnouts and donuts. Most comments focused on a group of young drivers performing burnouts and driving recklessly, speculating that it was a tribute to friends who had passed away the previous week. Many voiced their concerns for safety and expressed frustration over the disruptive behavior. One commenter defends their involvement stating that they showed respect and did not engage in burnouts. Michael Livingston wrote, “I pray we all be safe no matter the situation and let us be in unity and respect for one another.” Robert Lewis responded, “I saw the burnout at Speedway that was a lot of smoke even reached Food Lion. No matter what the reason is there is no reason to drive reckless, someone could have gotten seriously hurt or killed.” Jessica Jordan wrote, “They were being quite disruptive in traffic. I thought it might be for the young man who lost his life, but Broad Street Loris was not the place.”

Buley acknowledged that the teens were being rowdy while paying tribute to a deceased friend; nonetheless, it is essential for everyone to adhere to traffic regulations. He mentioned that some of the kids showed disrespect towards the officers and remarked, “We need to have a tough skin,” explaining that he comprehends their desire to honor a friend. “However, there is an appropriate way to do this,” Buley added. To reiterate the Chief’s message, the LPD is open to assisting with tribute rides if they are arranged; please call 843-756-4000., press the number 2 to speak with an officer who can make note of the date and time of the ride or assist with the ride at traffic signals.