News Summary
A series of reckless driving incidents in Beaufort County led to multiple arrests and injuries over the weekend. Police pursuits involved a traffic stop, street racing, and a tragic fatal crash. Authorities urge the community to obey traffic laws to enhance safety and prevent further incidents.
Beaufort, South Carolina – A series of high-speed police chases in Beaufort County over the weekend led to multiple arrests and injuries, with law enforcement responding to several dangerous situations involving reckless driving and street racing.
On July 10, 2025, Robert Leroy Washington, 65, was arrested following a traffic stop that escalated into a police chase. The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office initiated the stop after a deputy noticed a silver sedan displaying expired South Carolina temporary registration tags. During the traffic stop, a male passenger exited the vehicle unexpectedly, prompting concerns for the safety of both individuals. Washington then provided a false name to deputies and claimed he did not possess a driver’s license.
As law enforcement awaited backup, Washington fled the scene in the sedan, prompting a brief pursuit that culminated in a crash on Bay Pines Road near Parker Drive. Following the collision, Washington was taken to Beaufort Memorial Hospital and subsequently booked into the Beaufort County Detention Center. He faces multiple charges, including failure to stop for blue lights, providing false identification to law enforcement, driving with an improper vehicle license, habitual offender status, and possession of stolen goods valued over $10,000.
In another incident early Sunday morning, a street race involving a Dodge Charger and a motorcycle prompted a high-speed chase that left one vehicle overturned in pluff mud near downtown Beaufort. The chase, which began at approximately 12:35 a.m., saw the Charger reach speeds exceeding 130 mph before the driver failed to heed a trooper’s blue lights. While a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuver was attempted, it proved unsuccessful. Eventually, the Charger overturned in Barnwell Bluff marsh.
The 21-year-old driver of the Charger, a Bluffton resident, was arrested and charged with failing to stop for blue lights and racing on a public road. After receiving treatment for minor injuries at Beaufort Memorial Hospital, she was released on personal recognizance bonds totaling $7,500. The passenger in the Charger sustained serious injuries, including a punctured lung and a fractured eye socket, and was hospitalized.
Additionally, on Saturday evening, another police chase involved a Toyota Corolla on U.S. 21. The adult driver, identified as Theodore Lamont Frazier, 22, led authorities on a chase after failing to stop for blue lights. The Corolla eventually crashed, injuring Frazier and two male teenagers who were in the car with him. Frazier is also facing charges for child endangerment, as two juveniles were in the vehicle during the pursuit. The trio fled from the scene towards the Spanish Moss Trail but were later apprehended by law enforcement. A Glock pistol believed to belong to one of the fleeing suspects was recovered nearby. Frazier now faces charges amounting to over $70,000, including threatening the life of a public official.
Separately, a separate incident linked to street racing resulted in a tragic fatal crash on Keans Neck Road. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. when deputies responded to reports of approximately 150 vehicles involved in racing. A black Chevrolet failed to stop for a deputy’s signal, leading to a crash into a tree that resulted in the driver’s death at the scene. A passenger in the Chevrolet was ejected and suffered serious injuries, requiring hospitalization. The South Carolina Highway Patrol is currently investigating the circumstances of this fatal crash.
As law enforcement continues to deal with the consequences of reckless driving and the dangers associated with street racing, community members are urged to drive responsibly and obey traffic laws to prevent further incidents of this nature.
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Additional Resources
- WJCL: Robert Leroy Washington Arrest
- Wikipedia: Traffic Collision
- Island Packet: Local Traffic News
- Google Search: Beaufort Traffic Incidents
- ABC News 4: Beaufort County Drag Racing
- Google Scholar: Street Racing Accidents
- WTOC: Car Chase in Beaufort
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Police Chases
- Island Packet: Local Crime News
- Google News: Beaufort County Police Arrests
Author: STAFF HERE BEAUFORT
The HERE Beaufort Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Beaufort community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background: Local Roots in Beaufort : Our team includes lifelong Beaufort residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sale of the historic Crofts Block Building, Beaufort’s equestrian heritage, and growth in local tech and education sectors (e.g., BeaufortTechnical College programs). Collective Experience: With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality: Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
