22-year-old arrested in hit-and-run that injured four children in Sangaree

Tracey Hopkins’ oldest daughter will need to use a wheelchair for weeks, but the Sangaree mother takes some solace in the arrest of the motorist accused of hitting her three children and another girl, then driving away.

Philip Andrew Wucherer, 22, was arrested just after noon Tuesday on three counts of leaving the scene of a collision involving great bodily injury and one count of leaving the scene of a collision involving personal injury.

“We’re all beside ourselves and elated that they caught him,” Hopkins said. “He’s not going to hurt any more kids, and that makes me happy.”

Authorities said a silver Ford Taurus sped through a curve on Paddock Way around 11:30 p.m. Saturday and struck the four children, who were sitting on a curb. Sydney Hopkins, 10; Evan Hopkins, 13; Dorothy Jackson, 14; and Harleigh Eury, 10, were taken to Medical University Hospital.

Sydney was released Monday. The others remained at the hospital Tuesday and were listed in good condition.

Hopkins said she thought her children were in bed when they had actually sneaked out to find a Wi-Fi signal with their cellphones. The youngsters planned to play games.

The family nightmare will last for months, she said. Her home likely will need to be converted to allow wheelchair access. Home schooling might be needed, too, she said. “We have a long road ahead of us,” she said. “But we will deal and do what needs to be done to make them happy.”

Wucherer was taken into custody at his workplace on Trolley Road, Highway Patrol Cpl. Bob Beres said. He was later booked into the Dorchester County Detention Center. Beres said he didn’t know how investigators tracked down Wucherer.

A Facebook page for Wucherer indicates he’s engaged and has a young son.

Reach Andrew Knapp at 937-5414 or twitter.com/offlede.