Monroe woman killed in 'high speed' DUI crash

YORK COUNTY, S.C. — Deitra Johnson sat in court in York, cradling a framed picture of her daughter, tears rolling down her face.

"She was such a beautiful girl. Now, she's gone," she said.

Lacee Sullivan, 23, was killed Thursday night on Interstate 77 in Rock Hill. Troopers said a drunken driver was to blame.

Sullivan and her friend, Gabrielle Williams, 21, were driving back to North Carolina, after having dinner at a Mexican restaurant.

They were on I-77 near Dave Lyle Boulevard, when troopers said another driver was racing up behind them.

Troopers said Jeannine Valdes, 35, of Rock Hill, was drunk when she got on I-77 north at very high speed.

Eyewitnesses said she was passing cars on the left and the right, weaving in and out of traffic. At one point, she crossed into the left lane and rear-ended the car with Williams and Sullivan inside.

Both cars sailed across all four lanes of traffic, down and embankment and overturned.

Sullivan was trapped in the car and died at Carolinas Medical Center. Williams was also taken the hospital with unknown injuries.

Troopers said Valdes smelled of alcohol and was combative with officers on the scene. She was brought into court in York County for a bond hearing in a wheelchair Friday afternoon. Her feet were shackled with bandages visible.

Behind her, Sullivan's family sat in tears, holding Sullivan’s picture. Her sister, Landee Staton, said Sullivan had a bright future ahead of her.

"She was such a special person, she meant a lot to a lot of people," she said.

In court, family friend Brenda Mills read a letter from Sullivan’s mother, who was too emotional to speak.

"My baby girl was taken from me four days before her birthday. Instead of planning her birthday party, I will be planning her funeral," Mills said.

"She was my maid of honor at my wedding. Now, she'll never be able to get married or have children," Whitney Traywick, Sullivan’s cousin, said. "Somebody wanted to be selfish, and she's dead over something so senseless."

Deputy Solicitor Willy Thompson urged the judge to deny bond or at least set a high one.

He read through a list of Valdes's record, including speeding over 25 mph beyond the limit and convictions for cocaine and marijuana possession. There were also other past traffic offenses.

The judge set bond for Valdes at $75,000. He ordered that she surrender her driver's license until her court date, which is tentatively set for Sept. 20.

The victim's family was upset that bond was set at that level.

"Seventy five thousand is ridiculous," Staton said. "Her life was worth more than that."

"It doesn't matter if she got a bond or not, Lacee's gone," Traywick said.

Valdes has two children, ages 9 and 2. She did not say anything in court but broke down in tears, covering her face when the letter from Sullivan's mother was read, talking about forgiveness.

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