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An accused drunk driver is back on the streets days after state troopers say he caused a horrific crash that killed a Laurens County, South Carolina teenager. Barrett Hastings Power, 44, of Fountain Inn, S.C., was charged with felony DUI resulting in death after the truck he was driving plowed into another vehicle at approximately 6:50 p.m. EDT last Wednesday (April 9, 2025).
The impact of the crash killed the other driver, 17-year-old Tyler Bishop of Gray Court, S.C.
Bishop was attempting to turn left onto Greenpond Road from Simmons Road in a 2020 Hyundai sedan when Power’s 2017 GMC pickup crashed into him, according to the S.C. Highway Patrol (SCHP). Tyler Bishop died at the scene of the accident – which took place approximately ten miles south of Fountain Inn.
Power was transported to an area hospital prior to being booked at the Laurens County Detention Center on the aforementioned charge. Bishop was pronounced dead at the scene.
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Power’s driving history includes a pair of previous driving under the influence arrests — plus a string of speeding violations and a failure to stop for blue lights charge. Despite that history, Laurens County magistrate Mike Pitts granted him a $50,000 surety bond — allowing Power to walk free just days after the fatal collision.
His release is already igniting outrage in the Upstate.
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Under South Carolina law, a person is considered a first-time offender if they have no prior DUI convictions within the past 10 years at the time of the current offense. This “lookback period” effectively resets after a decade, allowing someone with multiple DUIs spread out over a longer timeframe to repeatedly be charged as a first offender — and often face significantly lighter penalties as a result.
Records show Power was convicted of driving under the influence on June 21, 2000 – and again on July 26, 2011. Both of these were listed as first-offense charges due to the time which elapsed between the incidents.
Despite those two convictions, Power had no felony DUI history on the books when he was charged in connection with Tyler Bishop’s death. This legal technicality may have contributed to Pitts’ decision to grant him a $50,000 bond.
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For Tyler Bishop’s family and friends, the outrage feels personal. Tyler wasn’t just a name on a crash report — according to his obituary and social media posts, he was a bright, kind-hearted young man with deep roots in the Laurens community. Tyler was known for his compassion and his love of music, video games and skateboarding.
Friends and family described him as someone who lit up every room he entered, a teen with an infectious smile and a promising future.
Now, that future has been taken from him… and those who loved him.
While South Carolina’s DUI statutes are facing renewed scrutiny in the aftermath of this fatal collision, several circuit court judges have – to their credit – imposed stiff sentences in several recent high-profile DUI prosecutions.
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Earlier this month, our Erin Parrott reported on a weighty sentence handed down against a Bluffton, S.C. man who killed an infant passenger during a drunk driving accident in 2024. Also, our media outlet provided extensive coverage of the December 2024 guilty plea of 27-year-old Jamie Lee Komoroski – whose blood alcohol content was three times the legal limit when the Toyota she was driving slammed into a golf cart on Folly Beach two years ago.
That crash killed newlywed Samantha Miller on her wedding night.
I also reported in January on efforts by David Longstreet to deny a pardon for Billy Patrick Hutto, Jr. of Gilbert, S.C. – who was convicted of DUI resulting in death after his 2003 Jeep slammed into the Longstreet’s family minivan on the morning of January 1, 2012 as they were on their way to church.
Longstreet’s daughter, six-year old Emma Longstreet, was killed in that crash.
FITSNews pays extremely close attention to DUI cases and has consistently argued for the tough, consistent application of state law. Count on our media outlet to also advocate on behalf of any necessary reform of those laws.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Jenn Wood is FITSNews’ incomparable research director. She’s also the producer of the FITSFiles and Cheer Incorporated podcasts and leading expert on all things Murdaugh/ South Carolina justice. A former private investigator with a criminal justice degree, evildoers beware, Jenn Wood is far from your average journalist! A deep dive researcher with a passion for truth and a heart for victims, this mom of two is pretty much a superhero in FITSNews country. Did we mention she’s married to a rocket scientist? (Lucky guy!) Got a story idea or a tip for Jenn? Email her at jenn@fitsnews.com.
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12 comments
Had it been a family member of mine, I’d be warning Powers to not go outside and stay away from windows.
May I suggest another driving category that has also resulted in many fatalities? It’s called DWS: driving while stupid.
Firing Squad has been taking out the trash lately….roll on
Could you kindly explain the meaning behind this comment. Please
Powers needs to be put in jail so he can’t enjoy his life every again because of what he did he should not be able to lay down his head at night
Chrissy he was referring to the POS that killed Tyler. He should get sentenced to the firing squad.
It is a shame a young teenager life was lost due to powers not staying off the road from drinking shame on you they need to put you away for good because you have not learned your lesson so nobody else will get killed
Could you kindly explain the meaning behind this comment. Please
I don’t understand how he could get out on bond. Something tells me that he still hasn’t learned his lesson.
Not surprised, and I hate that it took killing an innocent child to finally get what he deserves. He was a pathetic bully in middle school and apparently turned into a pathetic adult.
Will be interesting to see how much, if any, time he gets in prison since he has close connections to at least 1 Laurens County judge.
South Carolina has the highest fatality rates per 100,000 drivers in USA. This is a terrible tragedy. FITSNEWS needs to pay close attention to DUI Laws pending in the General Assembly. H3497 had increased penalties for DUI offenders and created Felony DUI second degree which punished drunk drivers who cause “moderate bodily injury” with a jail sentence of up to 10 years, also it included Liquor Liability Reform. Unfortunately, it was struck and replaced with the Senate Tort Reform bill last week in the S.C. Senate. I have represented several victims of felony DUI recently. It is not uncommon for the offenders to get the mandatory minimum and/or have their charges reduced to reckless homicide and then receive probation. $20,000-$50,000 surety bonds seem to be the norm, very infuriating for families who must endure insult to injury after losing a loved one. Prayers for this family and I hope justice is served upon the wrongdoer.