North Charleston, S.C. – A Beaufort man died in a high-speed crash on the morning of June 2, 2025, after attempting to evade a traffic stop initiated by the North Charleston Police. The incident, which occurred on Cross County Road, has raised significant questions about law enforcement protocols during police chase events. It also brings attention to aggressive driving behavior. This marks a tragic instance of the consequences tied to North Charleston’s police chase crash practices.
Incident Timeline
According to Harve Jacobs, spokesperson for the North Charleston Police, the incident began at approximately 9:45 a.m. An officer attempted a traffic stop on a suspect vehicle, a stolen car identified near the Dollar General on Kirkpatrick Lane. Instead of stopping, the reckless driver fled the scene, accelerating to dangerous miles per hour.
The driver, later identified as Clarence Delaney Jr., 54, of Beaufort, sped down Cross County Road toward Dorchester Road. He weaved between westbound lanes, the center lane, and eastbound lanes to evade capture. Witnesses also observed the vehicle drifting into the southbound lane and northbound lane and creating an immediate hazard for nearby traffic. In the course of the North Charleston police chase, the vehicle crashed in the 7200 Cross County Road block. Emergency crews discovered Delaney ejected from the suspect vehicle. He died at the scene due to blunt force injuries and other fatal injuries.
Coroner’s Confirmation
Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal confirmed that Delaney’s death was caused by trauma consistent with single-vehicle crash impacts at high speeds. Multiple law enforcement agencies are reviewing the case.
Broader Public and Community Impact
This crash is part of a troubling increase in fatal crashes tied to police chase events. It has sparked new concern from community members over the safety of high-speed pursuits in populated areas. Nearby roads, including those in Dorchester County, were impacted by lane closures, affecting daily commutes. These closures raised tension among local drivers. This particular crash exemplifies the dangers that come with North Charleston police chase occurrences.
The incident is also an example of how aggressive driving can escalate into life-threatening injuries for both suspects and the general public. While this case involved no Minor injuries, the potential for multi-vehicle incidents and harm to bystanders remains high.
Traffic Enforcement and Patterns
High-speed incidents often occur in areas like Cross County Road and Dorchester Road, which serve as critical connectors across the region. Many of these corridors include multiple lanes of travel. For example, westbound lanes, center lane, eastbound lanes, southbound lane, and northbound lane all present dangers during a reckless driver pursuit. This often results in a police chase crash in North Charleston.
These fatal encounters often stem from stolen or unregistered vehicles. Recent examples include models like the 2014 U-Haul box truck. In some states, encounters involve large commercial vehicles like Dodge Ram, Dodge Journey, or Dodge Caravan.
Broader Regional and National Context
While this event occurred in South Carolina, similar issues plague other counties. Washington County, Tooele County, Richland County, Salt Lake County, Utah County, Orangeburg County, and Weber County law enforcement have faced scrutiny for high-speed tactics. Roads such as South Beltline Boulevard, South I-15, I-215 South, and Interstate 77 South have witnessed comparable fatal crashes. These often result from road rage disputes, wrong-way drivers, or single vehicle crash cases involving police chase incidents.
Notably, distracted or drowsy driving also contributes to accident with injuries. Recent reviews from the Utah Department of Public Safety and the Driver License Division support the need for stricter distracted driving laws and traffic safety campaigns.
A Community in Mourning
The death of Clarence Delaney Jr. is a sobering reminder of the risks posed by reckless driver behavior. It shows how fast a routine stop can turn fatal in a North Charleston police chase crash event. The concern from community groups in North Charleston and beyond remains high, especially near locations like the College of Charleston, where students regularly travel major thoroughfares.
