DRUNK DRIVER SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS

July 12, 2011
Contact: pressinfo@soli10th.com

(Anderson, SC). Thirty-one year old Matthew Massey of Anderson pled guilty today in Anderson General Sessions Court to four counts of Felony Driving Under the Influence with Great Bodily Injury, 3 counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor and one count of Child Endangerment. The Honorable Cordell Maddox sentenced Massey to 22 years suspended on service of 12 years with 5 years probation for charges originating in December of 2009. 

On 12/12/2009, Massey was driving in Anderson County with three minor children and three other passengers in his vehicle. He lost control at a high rate of speed on SC178 and struck two telephone poles. Four of the seven people in the car were ejected including Cassie Hunter, 15, who died on impact and Joel Jackson, 20, who suffered severe injuries and is permanently paralyzed. Caitlin Sutton and Christopher Sutton were also seriously injured in the accident. Shortly before the accident, SCHP had received a phone call that the car driven by Massey was speeding and driving erratically. A trooper was dispatched to the area but the accident occurred before he could arrive. The investigation also revealed that Mr. Massey, the only person over 21, had purchased beer for all the underage people.