Columbia, SC (June 02, 2026) – A pedestrian was seriously hurt Sunday evening after an SUV struck them on the Gervais Street bridge in Columbia, sending them over the railing and onto the riverbank below. The crash happened at approximately 7:45 p.m. on Sunday, June 1.
According to investigators, the SUV, driven by 30-year-old William Joseph Livingston, was heading west on the bridge when it hit a curb, crossed multiple lanes of traffic, and veered onto the sidewalk. The pedestrian was struck and carried along the bridge railing before being thrown over the side.
The person who was hit landed on the riverbank under the bridge. Emergency units treated them at the scene before they were taken to a hospital, and, as of Monday, the person remained under medical care. Their identity had not been released at the time of publication.
Livingston was arrested after officers observed signs of impairment. He faces a charge of driving under the influence resulting in great bodily injury and is being held on a $1 million bond.
The collision remains under active review, and further details will be released as they become available. We hope the injured pedestrian makes as full a recovery as possible.
What to Know About DUI Crashes Involving Pedestrians in South Carolina
South Carolina treats DUI crashes that result in serious injury as a significant criminal matter, separate from standard impaired driving charges. When a pedestrian is hurt, the charge can be elevated based on the degree of harm caused. A finding of great bodily injury typically means the person faced a substantial risk to their life or suffered long-term physical harm.
Bridges present a particular danger in pedestrian crashes because the railing is often the only barrier between a person and a significant drop. Even a glancing hit at moderate speed can generate enough force to push someone into or over a guardrail. Pedestrians on bridges have little room to move out of the way when a vehicle leaves the travel lane.
Bond amounts in DUI injury cases can vary widely depending on the severity of the harm and the defendant’s prior record.
