ROCK HILL, S.C. (WBTV) – An 18-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a collision with a vehicle on May 19 on Dave Lyle Boulevard.
Brayden Birmele was struck by a GMC Yukon while riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene.
Authorities identified the driver, Hector Nunez, 66, who has been charged with failing to yield the right-of-way, having unsafe tires, and possessing an open container. Police stated he was not driving under the influence.
Nunez’s court appearance was rescheduled after he requested a trial. According to South Carolina law, a driver is not automatically charged in a fatal crash unless investigators find recklessness or negligence.
Brayden Birmele had recently graduated, and his family is now advocating for changes in state laws regarding accountability in fatal vehicular incidents.
The investigation is ongoing, with no further details on when Nunez will return to court.
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