Families Sue South Carolina Department Of Transportation Over Deadly Oak Tree
The enormous, ancient oak trees of South Carolina are a reminder of just how small we are in this world. They have been here longer than we have, and certainly longer than automobiles have existed. Any real estate developer who wants to build on a site where centuries old trees stand has few counterarguments to offer to the trees’ protest of, “We were here first.” It is only when the trees start killing people that the calls to remove them become compelling. An oak tree in Charleston is at the center of such a debate, and it has been for years. The oak, located near a road, has played a role in several collisions, including one that killed four men as a friend drove them home from a bar. A series of lawsuits have arisen from this devastating accident, including a lawsuit alleging that the South Carolina Department of Transportation and the City of Charleston were negligent in not removing the tree. If you have suffered injuries in an accident where a car collided with a tree, contact a Columbia car accident lawyer.
Tree’s Nickname “The Widowmaker” Predates Collision That Killed Four Men
In November 2023, Brittney Roper and four of her friends left The Break bar on James Island to drive home after a birthday party. On Riverland Drive, Roper lost control of the car and crashed into a gigantic oak tree by the side of the road. She was the only one who was wearing a seatbelt, and she was the only one who survived. Her four friends who died in the accident were Mitchell Watson, Tyler Barron, and two brothers, Earl Hamilton, Jr. and James Hamilton. The victims ranged in age from 26 to 29.
For some time before the fatal accident, the tree had borne a hand-painted sign that said, “Widowmaker.” Whoever posted the sign adorned it with orange lights so drivers could see it at night. The tree is located on a winding road where there is poor visibility, and where people frequently drive at high speeds after drinking.
The victims’ families have filed several lawsuits in connection to the accident; by October 2025, each victim’s family had received settlements of at least $300,000. The defendants included several insurance companies, plus The Break, the bar where Roper and the others consumed alcohol on the night of the accident. Roper also faced criminal charges for drunk driving and related charges and served several months in jail; she was released in June 2024. The most recent additions to the list of defendants are the City of Charleston and the South Carolina Department of Transportation. The DOT has the authority to remove the tree, and the plaintiffs allege that it was negligent in not removing it.
Let Us Help You Today
The personal injury lawyers at the Stanley Law Group can help you get justice after an accident involving a single vehicle collision with a tree on a rural road. Contact The Stanley Law Group in Columbia, South Carolina or call (803)799-4700 for a free initial consultation.
Source:
postandcourier.com/news/crime/james-island-charleston-dot-lawsuit-widowmaker-collision-fatal/article_d33273d7-d3eb-4c44-9e15-a325a82d8e28.html
