Driver Faces Criminal Charges After ATV Crash

Residents of Hilton Head Island have long known what visitors to the island have only figured out more recently, namely that this island off the coast of South Carolina’s mainland holds year-round fun for people of all ages. Retirees enjoy golf and birdwatching while children opt for swimming. Young adults can have just enough fun with beverages and vehicles, although the island’s straitlaced image is a safeguard against the speeding convertibles of South Beach in Miami and the roaring motorcycles of Myrtle Beach. Driving a car or motorcycle on Hilton Head is not especially thrilling, but it is perfect for riding an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). Rules about riding ATVs on public roads in South Carolina vary from one city to another. Hilton Head prohibits ATVs on roads open to vehicular traffic, but you can ride them off road, which is their original purpose. Earlier this fall, an ATV crashed during an off-road excursion on Hilton Head Island, causing two of the three occupants to suffer injuries. If you got injured in an ATV accident during an off-road ride, contact a Columbia car accident lawyer.

Two Passengers Suffer Injuries After ATV Crashes in the Woods on Hilton Head Island

On October 22, 2025, Daniel P. Geoffroy, Jr. went for a ride in his ATV in a wooded area on Hilton Head Island. He was transporting two passengers; one was Ashley Facenda, and the other was a woman whose name the Hilton Head Island Packet did not publish. While driving on an all-use path near Arrow Road, close to the southern end of Hilton Head Island, Geoffroy lost control of the ATV and crashed into a ditch. Facenda was ejected from the ATV and suffered lung injuries, as well as fractures to her leg, collarbone, and shoulder blade. The other woman was not ejected from the ATV, but she suffered facial injuries, including a broken nose. Geoffroy was not injured seriously enough to require medical treatment.

Facenda filed a lawsuit against Geoffroy in civil court, seeking compensation for the medical expenses she incurred because of the accident. Geoffroy is also facing misdemeanor charges for reckless driving and for having an open container of an alcoholic beverage in the vehicle. He took a breathalyzer test at the scene of the accident, and his blood alcohol content (BAC) was below the legal limit of 0.08 percent, so he did not face criminal charges for drunk driving. Facenda has a chance of winning the civil case against Geoffroy even if he does not get a conviction in criminal court. If he pleads guilty, the civil court will automatically rule in Facenda’s favor, but if he pleads no content, the outcome of the civil case could be in the plaintiff’s favor or the defendant’s.

Let Us Help You Today

The personal injury lawyers at the Stanley Law Group can help you get justice after an accident involving an ATV.  Contact The Stanley Law Group in Columbia, South Carolina or call (803)799-4700 for a free initial consultation.

Source:

islandpacket.com/news/local/crime/article313026470.html