Charleston County deputies not at fault in crashes after chase, report says

The two Charleston County deputies who crashed while chasing a suspect into a Berkeley County neighborhood last week did not contribute to the collisions, according to the state Highway Patrol.

A summary of the crash investigation was released today.

Two patrol cars collided with a Dodge Charger driven by Tewonna Sallie, 28, Wednesday night on Cranford Road, a residential street off Red Bank Road on the outskirts of Goose Creek.

According to the summary, the Charger crossed over on Cranford Road and hit a patrol car driven by Deputy Mark Schreffler, 25. Another patrol car driven by Deputy Mary Aurer, 30, swerved to left to avoid the collision and hit the left side of the Charger.

Aurer was taken to a hospital for observation. Sallie was taken to jail.

Sallie refused to stop for a Charleston police officer on Savannah Highway and then led Charleston County deputies on a 12-mile chase in which her speed sometimes topped 100 mph, according to the incident report.

Sallie is in custody at the Charleston County jail on charges of failing to stop for blue lights, driving under suspension for the fourth time, expired vehicle tag and failure to surrender an expired driver’s license and license plate, as well as a probation violation. She was on probation for a felony breach of trust conviction. Her total bail was set at $102,816.

Sallie said in bond court that she lives in an apartment complex at 3000 Harbour Lake Drive, which is within walking distance of where she crashed her car.

Reach Dave Munday at 937-5553 or twitter.com/dmunday.