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Ernest Kenner

Age : 74

Gender : Male

Race : Black

Date : 12/02/2022

Location : Broad River Road near Zimalcrest Drive

City : Columbia

County : Richland

State : South Carolina

Agency : Richland County Sheriff’s Department

Officer(s) :Unknown

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Bystander killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

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REASON FOR CHASE:
Bystander killed during a Richland County Sheriff’s Department pursuit initiated after a Traffic Safety Unit deputy observed a vehicle driven by 23-year-old Shylek Pringle speeding through a school zone in the 1000 block of Zimalcrest Drive.
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NARRATIVE:
On 12/02/2022, 74-year-old Ernest Kenner of Columbia was killed when a vehicle driven by Shylek Pringle crashed into Kenner’s vehicle during a Richland County Sheriff’s Department pursuit. Kenner was an uninvolved motorist.
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Shortly before 8:00 a.m., a Richland County Sheriff’s Department Traffic Safety Unit deputy was conducting traffic enforcement in the 1000 block of Zimalcrest Drive. The Sheriff’s Department said the deputy observed Pringle speeding through a school zone and attempted to stop him. Pringle continued driving and the deputy pursued him.
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The Sheriff’s Department described the pursuit as traveling a short distance. During the pursuit, Pringle crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with Kenner’s vehicle. Kenner was pronounced dead at the scene. No sheriff’s department vehicle physically collided with Kenner’s vehicle.
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The South Carolina Highway Patrol was assigned to investigate the fatal collision. The Richland County Coroner’s Office subsequently identified Kenner as the person killed.
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Pringle was arrested following the crash. Authorities said he faced charges including failure to stop for blue lights resulting in death, reckless homicide, speeding in a school zone, driving under suspension related to DUI, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
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Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott publicly focused his response on Pringle’s preexisting criminal cases, saying Pringle had been released on four separate bonds from multiple agencies. That circumstance did not alter Kenner’s role in this event: Kenner was an uninvolved 74-year-old motorist killed during the police pursuit.
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SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.wistv.com/2022/12/02/one-dead-after-high-speed-pursuit-richland-county/
https://www.abccolumbia.com/2022/12/02/rcsd-arrests-man-after-car-chase-fatal-collision/