Former SC Senator Involved in Hit-and-Run Incident in Charleston

Unexpected Turn of Events

John Robert Kuhn, a former South Carolina state senator, was arrested and now faces charges related to a hit-and-run incident in downtown Charleston. Kuhn, 61, is charged with hit-and-run with property damage to an attended vehicle and improper passing. He was booked at the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center on March 14, and later released on bond amounting to $10,232, as reflected in the jail records.

Details of the Incident

Based on the information from the Charleston Police Department (CPD), the incident occurred on March 7, shortly before 4 p.m. A teenage driver below the age of 18 reported the event. According to her, she was waiting to make a left turn on Columbus Street when another vehicle traveling east passed her on the left and hit her driver’s side-view mirror. The police later identified Kuhn as the driver responsible for damaging the teenager’s vehicle.

Hit and Run

Officials from the CPD mentioned that Kuhn had left the scene of collision without stopping. However, when he halted at a traffic signal on Meeting Street, a Good Samaritan attempted to confront the former senator. When the man refused to move aside and allow Kuhn to continue, he was knocked down by Kuhn’s vehicle, a Range Rover, as it sped off onto Columbus Street. The vehicle’s knockdown of the Samaritan was captured on a cell phone and was later presented to the officers.

John Robert Kuhn’s Statement

Kuhn, during his conversation with a CPD officer the following day, stated that he remembered circumventing the teenager’s vehicle, but did not realize he had collided with her side-view mirror. When brought up to speed with the details, he claimed he would settle the damage inflicted on the teenager’s vehicle. Notably, Kuhn’s legal background includes serving as a state senator for District 43 and being the managing partner of Kuhn & Kuhn Law Firm.

Kuhn’s Driving History

In light of the current events, Kuhn’s driving history has been brought to the spotlight. While documenting the March 7 incident, an officer from CPD stated he had previously pulled over Kuhn numerous times, due to different moving violations in the same Range Rover.

Records from the Charleston Municipal Court and the S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles reveal that since 2008, Kuhn has been cited 14 times for 16 separate traffic violations. His list of infringements include careless driving four times since 2008 and speeding five times since 2013, with the most recent instance of careless driving occurring in February 2024.

Consequences of Traffic Violations

South Carolina follows the “at-fault” principle that assigns liability for damages and injuries in traffic-related incidents to the driver whose actions led to the mishap. Kuhn’s involvement in three traffic collisions since 2017, which police determined he contributed to, will influence the assignment of liability.

Requests for comments from Kuhn’s law firm regarding his charges and the allegations in the Charleston Police report have not been answered as of now.