Felony DUI Charges dismissed against Westminster Man

Felony DUI resulting in death charges have been dropped against a Westminster man. On Sept. 6, the South Carolina Highway Patrol responded to a multi-vehicle collision at the intersection of US 76 and Sheep Farm Road in Seneca. The collision resulted in the death of 28-year-old Michele Wright and 29-year-old Joshua Silvers of Iva. Based upon information from the scene and witness accounts, the South Carolina Highway Patrol concluded that 52-year-old Drew Woodall Greene of Westminster was traveling at a high rate of speed when he failed to obey the traffic signal at the intersection. Witnesses reported seeing Greene in an unconscious state as he was traveling down US 76 and approached the intersection. Five cars were involved in the accident. When law enforcement arrived on the scene, they observed numerous empty beer cans in the rear of Greene’s vehicle and on the roadway. Greene was incoherent and disoriented at the scene. He was transported to Greenville Memorial Hospital. At the hospital, Greene voluntarily submitted to blood testing to determine his blood alcohol concentration. As a result of that evening’s investigation, the South Carolina Highway Patrol charged Greene with two counts of felony DUI resulting in death. On Nov. 7, the Toxicology Division of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division issued their report, which indicated that blood samples provided by Greene showed his blood alcohol level at the time of the accident was 0.0. Additional testing revealed no drugs in Greene’s system. Hospital records revealed that Greene suffers from lactic acidosis and the levels of lactic acid present in his body were such that disorientation, confusion, loss of consciousness, and seizures would likely result. The symptoms of lactic acidosis can be easily confused with someone who appears to be in an intoxicated state. Based upon the evidence, charges against Greene have been dismissed.