Duty Death: Joseph Antwine - [Florence County]
End of Service: 29/11/2013
By Ellen Meder
Florence Morning News
FLORENCE, S.C. — A Florence County Sheriff’s deputy died Friday morning, one week after a duty-related car accident put him in the hospital.
Capt. Mike Nunn confirmed that deputy Joseph Antwine, 23, passed away Friday.
On the night of Nov. 22, Antwine and deputy Brandon Floyd were involved in a single-car crash on Half Moon Road near Johnsonville while on the way to provide another deputy with backup.
Floyd’s injuries were not life-threatening, and he was released from the hospital earlier this week. Antwine, however, was placed in intensive care at McLeod Hospital in Florence.
FCSD said it would not make a statement about the loss Friday, but on Wednesday, the department released a statement saying thank you “for the incredible outpouring of support from the community for these deputies and their families. ...” The department offered suggestions on where monetary donations toward the officers and their families could be made.
Deputy Antwine was a Lake City resident who graduated in 2012 from The Citadel with a degree in criminal justice. He received the Col. Joseph E. Perkins Honor Committee Award for recognition of invaluable service to the Corps of Cadets by upholding and promoting the high ideals of The Citadel Honor System as a member of the school’s Honor Committee at the May 2012 convocation awards ceremony.
The Citadel posted a plea on its Facebook page Wednesday, asking for thoughts and prayers for Antwine, then followed with a message Friday evening saying, “It is with much sadness to tell you, Joseph Antwine, Citadel Alumni and Florence County Deputy Sheriff, died this morning as a result of injuries sustained in an accident, while on duty. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and fellow officers.”
The S.C. Highway Patrol’s Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) is investigating the wreck, and Lance Cpl. Sonny Collins said Friday that the unit’s work is ongoing. No findings are ready for release.
Antwine was driving the 2009 Dodge Charger that wrecked at approximately 8:20 p.m. on Nov. 22. SCHP Sgt. Bob Beres indicated that night that Antwine was wearing his seatbelt.
Arrangements will be made through The Brockington Funeral Home of Lake City. The contact number for the funeral home is 843-394-3511.
Morning News reporter Lindsay Buchanan contributed to this report.
Copyright 2013 Florence Morning News