Rock Hill man charged with DUI, heroin possession after woman dragged by SUV

A Rock Hill man believed to be under the influence of heroin dragged a woman 50 feet with his sport utility vehicle after she tried to take the keys out of the ignition following a crash.

Officers were called to the scene of an accident on Princeton Road around 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, according to a Rock Hill police report. Officers found Jeffrey Kennedy, 27, sitting in a Jeep Cherokee, which was backed into the treeline off the roadway.

Kennedy was unresponsive with shallow breathing. When he regained consciousness, he was sluggish, had a hard time answering questions and struggled to keep his eyes open. Kennedy told officers he used heroin and an opioid medication just before the crash, the report states.

Officers found a spoon and syringe with what appeared to be heroin residue in the car.

A witness told officers he saw Kennedy driving along Princeton Road, where he hit two mailboxes, before veering into the treeline.

Another witness, a woman, 38, saw Kennedy driving and watched him crash. She went to his car and saw he was passed out. She opened the driver’s door to take the keys out of the ignition.

Kennedy regained consciousness and shifted the vehicle into reverse, dragging the woman 50 feet before she fell on the ground. Kennedy’s SUV then hit two more cars, the report states.

Both Kennedy and the woman were treated for injuries.

Kennedy refused to provide a blood or urine sample and said there was nothing wrong with him and signed a form refusing medical assistance.

Police charged Kennedy with driving under the influence and heroin possession.

This story was originally published April 2, 2015 at 7:03 PM with the headline "Rock Hill man charged with DUI, heroin possession after woman dragged by SUV."