By FITSNews || Forty days (and one police chief) later, the City of Columbia, S.C. has finally concluded its report on the now-infamous early morning car crash involving its mayor-elect, Steve Benjamin.
Both Benjamin and Deborah Rubens, who was driving the Toyota Tercel that the mayor-elect ”T-boned” just hours after his electoral victory, were reportedly cited by police in the report. Benjamin was cited for driving with his headlights off and Rubens was cited for driving without insurance.
Further details were unavailable as the report has yet to be released to the public. Instead, it has been sent to the S.C. Highway Patrol, which is ”reviewing” its findings.
Hmmmm …
Bear in mind that it was the S.C. Highway Patrol which arrived at the scene of the accident two hours after the collision and made the snap judgment that Benjamin was sober – without giving him a field sobriety test, a breathalyzer exam or taking blood from him.
Sheesh … no wonder Benjamin was practically begging for the Highway Patrol to conduct this investigation … or at the very least be able to sign off on its findings.
Bottom line?
There’s no way this ends well.
As FITS reported last month, multiple witnesses observed Benjamin consuming alcohol beverages well into the evening just hours before the car crash, and there is still considerable ambiguity regarding his schedule in the hours immediately preceding the crash.
Also, the fact that Columbia’s police chief was fired after protesting the way City Hall was micromanaging the investigation will no doubt fuel additional conspiracy theories.
Rubens remains hospitalized with brain injuries and multiple bone fractures, by the way.
By It's a joke June 2, 2010 at 6:08 pm
We all know Benjamin was partying, the fun question to ask is with whon he was partying with (and it is well known it wasn’t his wife). Fits should have been on this story also. Talk about a major cover up.
By @PerezHiltonSays June 2, 2010 at 6:15 pm
Agreed.
By Pops June 2, 2010 at 6:47 pm
THIS WOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED AN INAPPROPRIATE PHYSICAL RELATIONSHIP.
By BZ June 2, 2010 at 6:53 pm
“If God doesn’t judge America, He will need to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.” ~ Ruth Bell Graham
###
“If God doesn’t judge [COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA], He will need to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.”
Where will it end if not by the hand of God Almighty? When people are forced to rely on the mercy of corrupt officials, there is no hope.
By bkm June 2, 2010 at 9:22 pm
The former Police Chief was fired. He did not resign.
By The Colonel June 3, 2010 at 4:41 am
Good Call BKM!
Fits, do you not read your own stories? Quoting you, “Tandy Carter, who took over as Columbia’s Chief of Police two years ago, was fired Monday morning by city manager Steve Gantt.”
Maybe you meant to say he “…was fired under protest.”
By Disappointed June 3, 2010 at 7:21 am
It appears no one cares if Mr Benjamin was driving while impaired (lack of sleep or too much alcohol or both). Was Mr. Benjamin alone at the time of the crash. Did Mr. Benjamin run a red light? Was Mr. Benjamin texting, talking on the phone, reading/writing email? The media reports he paid his ticket for driving with his lights off and points out Ms Rubens was ticketed for not having insurance.
I am not surprised there is no outrage because I didn’t see much the day it happened. I am disappointed.
By Irony June 3, 2010 at 8:47 am
The irony is that the only person(s) that will get to the bottom of this will be the much maligned trial lawyer. I’m not sure who the injured’s lawyer is, but he or she will be the person that finds out what really happened. They will receive no credit and probably will be ridiculed for … gasp … getting paid for doing a job. Nonetheless, it appears that a lawyer will be the only person who takes the time to figure out what really happened.
By rwwllms June 3, 2010 at 8:53 am
The outrage is there, Disappointed, the press is just to meek to report on it.
The press is scared that if it really pursued this as they should they wouldn’t get any more free handouts from City Hall.
The mainstream press has gotten lazy and no longer does any true story investigation. They prefer to sit on their asses and just print the press releases that politicians and government representatives give them.
If they print any thing with a hint of negativity about any official the free stories are cut off.
By Libb June 3, 2010 at 9:36 am
“Fits should have been on this story also…”–It’s a Joke
Well, Its A Joke, Fits was on the story, for a while:
http://www.fitsnews.com/2010/04/28/sources-benjamin-drank-into-wee-hours-prior-to-accident/
In this early story, sources told Fitsnews that Mr Benjamin had at least 4 drinks at the Liberty Tap Room and stayed there until 2 am, after which he and his entourage headed for the Sheraton. Mr Benjamin’s statement(s) (at last count there were three!?!?!) indicate a slightly different version of events. Also Fitsnews promised to “continue bringing you first hand accounts from all sides of this story”.
Well, that never happened. This story died on Fitsnews until the weak, had-to-print, Tandy Carter story. On April 30 (2 days after Fits ran the Benjamin was drinking story) the Legislative Black Caucus had their annual gathering. I know for a fact Mr Folks received an invite w/ a free ticket to attend. And then all those “first hand accounts” we were promised just got lost in the ethers. Makes me wonder how big was that envelope under Mr Folks’ dinner plate at the Caucus gathering?
I’m not at all satisfied with the version of events presented at this time. And this coming from one who voted for Mr Benjamin on the second go round.
By Todd June 3, 2010 at 1:14 pm
The City of Columbia government is in shambles. It’s embarrassing. It’s been this way for years. I shushed those who snickered when Coble was talking about what a great job he had done – not because they weren’t right in that what Coble was saying was just not true – but it was rude to snicker in front of him. We had such high hopes for Benjamin to provide some real leadership, integrity and vision for our home city.
By BK June 3, 2010 at 4:53 pm
If a USC football player had been driving instead of Benjamin, there would have been more press coverage, DUI testing and definitely some time at the detention center.
It would seem that the victim would deserve a more transparent investigation. She probably would have gotten it had anyone else hit her.
By Are You kidding? June 3, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Hey Libb, Fits should have been on the Benjamin paramour story. I know they were on the crash.
By Calhoun Fawls June 4, 2010 at 6:14 am
Take a deep breath, Sic. Are you insinuating that the SCHP is involved in a coverup? Do you really believe that the SCHP, under the Department of Public Safety, whose leadership was appointed by the conservative Republican Governor of SC who you used to work for actually covered up a potential DUI by a liberal Democrat Mayor-elect? Come on. Kicking law enforcement officers around seems to be the new sport for people, but insinuating the SCHP does Benjamin’s bidding is a damn big stretch.
By CriticalMass June 4, 2010 at 3:49 pm
“The press is scared that if it really pursued this as they should they could be perceived as part of a vast conspiracy by ‘the man’ to keep Benjamin down.”
There… I fixed it for you, rwwllms.
I assume at some point it will come out whether Benjamin was on his cell phone when the crash occurred… and if Rubens was in the habit of going straight at that intersection to park in that lot on the corner… not turning right (on green or red). If she was in the habit of going straight, she probably had a green light and it’s going to be up to Benjamin’s attorney to come up with an explanation as to why he hit her.
P.S. There’s a rumor that Joran van der Sloot was seen jumping out of Benjamin’s car after the crash.
By Lera Tanith June 5, 2010 at 4:34 pm
What a joke. “The Patrol” should not be allowed to review anything more complex than a cereal box. They don’t “investigate” their own crashes-why are they “reviewing” someone elses? This was a complete cover-up. The SCDPS and the Columbia Council knew there was a problem with Benjamin-and they knew Carter would uncover it-so they brought in their trained Monkeys-the “Patrol”. The experts at cover-up! In Feb. my friends 15 yr old daughter was hit and killed in Columbia by a man who admitted to taking drugs-hydrocodone-not calling for help-he called his attorney-a high powered-big name Columbia Criminal Attorney-and speeding-this guy was allowed to DRIVE home with NO TICKET-and it was blamed on a dead 15 yr old girl whose only crime according to the Patrol: wearing a black & white sweatshirt! The guy never even stepped on the brakes! He only stopped when he saw other cars coming–110 feet after impact! The Dir. of DPS, Mark Keel told 2 SC reps and a lobbyist that it was the girls fault-not the DRUGGED driver. Suggesting that she should have been walking on NON-EXISTENT sidewalks! Witnesses were let go without giving their information, the drivers license of the man was never run-12 SPEEDING tickets in the past few years! Thgey completely disregarded every state statute they are SWORN to uphold-but in so doing-let a drugged driver get away with the cold blooded murder of a child he wasn’t even fit to be in the same state as! The “Patrol” is either more incompetent than the Keystone Cops-or just plain corrupt.There is no JUSTICE in SC-only cover-ups & corruption! Chief Carter suffered in the Benjamin case, and a 15 yr old honor student, writer, violinist (pink violin!)sister, daughter friend and one of the sweetest people I know; & those who knew and loved her suffered because of a person who feels they are above the law, and have the right connections! DISGUSTING! If SC is a joke-Columbia & the DPS are the raunchy punch line.
By SnakeMD June 5, 2010 at 6:50 pm
A truly pathetic outcome. Steve Benjamin would have tested positive for alcohol consumption, as several witnesses at the bar (that same day–2:00am!) saw him consume no less than 4 cocktails. He had no sleep, was speeding, was talking on the cell phone, and driving with no lights. He gets an $80.00 ticket and doesn’t have the balls to admit he was wrong. Benjamin refuses to return calls and only releases statements that he is praying for the victims recovery. Steve Benjamin you will live with this for the rest of your life. Maybe in old age, after you are rich and famous, you will write a book and ask forgiveness for this “act” that has shaped and determined your future. Keep busy trying to solve Columbia’s problems because the more you keep your self occupied the less chance that the demons of guilt will consume you.
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