Tow Truck Driver Killed, Deputy Seriously Injured After Truck Crashes Into Deputy’s Car on Bridge

The body of a missing tow truck driver who was thrown off Don Holt Bridge following a crash on Wednesday, July 1, was recovered the next day near Daniel Island, according to authorities. Sadly, William Ellis, 45, a tow truck driver from North Charleston, SC, was killed while helping a stranded motorist.

The crash happened about 9:50 AM on the bridge’s westbound side. Ellis was assisting a motorist whose vehicle had broken down there, and sheriff’s deputy Mike Costanzo stopped to help. Both men were outside their vehicles when the driver of a Ford F-350 pulling a trailer crashed into the deputy’s Dodge Charger. The Charger was then slammed into the other vehicles, and somehow Ellis was thrown off the bridge while Costanzo was seriously hurt.

Rescuers searched the water surrounding the bridge for Ellis, and eventually recovered his body the next day. Ellis’ daughter, Savasha Lloyd, set up an online fundraiser to pay for her father’s funeral. She describes him as a loving father and grandfather, as well as an entrepreneur who helped many in the community.

Costanzo remains in the hospital with head trauma and multiple broken bones.

“Our family wants to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for the prayers and good wishes you’ve sent Mike,” said a press statement Costanzo’s family made through the Sheriff’s Department. “He is still in critical condition and has significant trauma to his head, along with many broken bones.” 

An online fundraiser for Costanzo had already raised about $20,000 of its $25,000 goal.

The driver of the Ford has not yet been charged but is reportedly a 47-year-old man from Mountain City, Tennessee.

If you know a surviving family member of a person who was injured or killed in an accident, please encourage them to contact our firm immediately. The consultation is completely free, with no out-of-pocket cost to the family to hire us.

For over 25 years the attorneys at Auger & Auger have been dedicated to protecting the rights of individuals and families that have suffered injuries or lost loved ones due to the negligence of others. We have years of experience guiding and helping our clients every step of the way to receive compensation for aspects such as medical bills, funeral costs, and other monetary loss. 

Editorial Note: At A&A we are always looking to improve the quality and safety and are saddened by the outcome of many tragic accidents across the Carolinas. The purpose of this news blog is to write about cases relevant to our industry and raise awareness about injury cases so that victims of similar incidents can educate themselves on theories of liability, the law, and how personal injury cases typically work. This article is created using publicly available information and is a secondary source. If you find any information here to be inaccurate, please notify us at vip@augerlaw.com, and we will make the appropriate adjustments.