News Summary
A 26-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for DUI-related deaths of a teenager and her grandfather. Joshua Yarborough’s crash occurred in West Columbia and raised questions about DUI laws after he was found over the legal alcohol limit. The victims’ family expressed dissatisfaction with the leniency of the sentence following their devastating loss.
West Columbia, SC – A 26-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for a DUI crash that resulted in the deaths of a teenager and her grandfather. Joshua Yarborough was involved in a fatal collision on September 15, 2023, at the intersection of 12th Avenue and B Avenue, where he struck another vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
Yarborough’s blood alcohol content was found to be 0.084 at the time of the crash, exceeding South Carolina’s legal limit of 0.08. He pleaded guilty to two counts of felony DUI resulting in death, which could have carried a maximum sentence of 25 years for each count. However, through a plea deal negotiated by his attorney, the sentence was capped at 10 years. The maximum sentence within that cap was handed down by Circuit Judge Debra McCaslin, who stated that this was a “rather lenient” sentence.
The court’s ruling allows Yarborough to serve his sentences concurrently, reducing his total time to just over 8 years when accounting for 692 days of time already served under house arrest. Evidence presented in court indicated that Yarborough had consumed at least three alcoholic drinks before getting behind the wheel.
Yarborough’s defense argued that he suffered from epilepsy and suggested that a seizure may have contributed to the accident. However, this claim was dismissed by the judge due to a lack of sufficient medical evidence supporting it.
In the tragic outcome of this incident, 17-year-old Leeya Leaveratte and her grandfather, 62-year-old Cornelius Clory, lost their lives. The victims’ family has expressed their belief that the 10-year sentence is insufficient given the circumstances, where they lost two loved ones in a single horrific event.
This devastating crash has also triggered broader discussions regarding liquor liability laws in South Carolina, particularly in relation to the bar where Yarborough was drinking prior to the incident. This establishment has since closed its doors amid escalating insurance costs tied to similar incidents.
Security footage from the scene of the crash captured Yarborough’s truck sideswiping another vehicle before colliding with Clory’s car. At the time of impact, Yarborough was recorded traveling at speeds of 37 mph before accelerating to 53 mph. The speed and recklessness of his driving have raised concerns about road safety and the implications of driving under the influence.
The Clory family, who had been making future plans before the crash, described their loss as shattering. Gladys Clory, Cornelius’s wife, eloquently portrayed the life-altering effects of the incident on their family. Additionally, Danielle Leaverette, Leeya’s mother, reflected on the profound impact that the crash has had on her life, highlighting the unbearable reality of losing both her only child and her father in one tragic event.
The sentencing hearing took place on June 5, 2025, in Lexington County, marking another chapter in a case that has drawn significant attention due to its tragic impact on the community and the pressing issue of DUI offenses.
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Additional Resources
- Post and Courier: West Columbia DUI Crash Sentencing
- Wikipedia: Driving Under the Influence
- Cola Daily: West Columbia Man Killed in Crash
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Alcoholism
- WIS TV: Two People Hit After Crash
- Google News: DUI Laws South Carolina
- The State: Local News on DUI Crash
- Google Search: Traffic Safety South Carolina
- WLTX: West Columbia Officer Injured in Crash
- Google Scholar: Liquor Liability South Carolina
Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON WRITER
The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexington.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
