MOUNT PLEASANT — A man pleaded guilty to reckless homicide after causing a nine-vehicle crash that resulted in a fatality, authorities said.
Melvin Otto Lamb III, 32, entered the plea on March 30 in Charleston County Circuit Court for the June 12, 2021, death of 72-year-old retired minister James Kelly Workman. Lamb rear-ended Workman's vehicle at 47 mph while it was stopped at a red light on Highway 17 near Hamlin Road.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Lamb admitted to swiping through the Tinder app at the time of the incident. Circuit Judge Roger Young Sr. sentenced Lamb to three years in prison, followed by five years of probation.
Both Lamb and Workman were taken to the Medical College of South Carolina following the crash, where Workman later died. Lamb sustained minor injuries.
The collision involved Lamb's 2008 Chevy Tahoe colliding with Workman's 2019 Chevrolet Trax, which subsequently crashed into several other vehicles. Nine vehicles were confirmed involved in the accident.
Lamb had an extensive history of driving offenses dating back to 2012, including multiple speeding incidents and prior crashes. A wrongful death lawsuit filed on behalf of Workman's estate was later settled out of court.
Witnesses reported that Workman was a father and grandfather, remembered for his playful nature and wisdom, serving in various ministries across multiple states prior to his retirement in Charleston.