‘Grossly impaired before 9 a.m.’: Woman killed motorcyclist in horrific DUI crash, then went to pick her daughter up from elementary school
A South Carolina woman who admitted to driving under the influence and causing a fatal crash that killed a retired police sergeant has been sentenced to more than a decade in prison after pleading guilty in court. Prosecutors said the defendant was heavily intoxicated before 9 a.m., caused a deadly collision involving a motorcyclist, fled the scene, and then went to pick up her daughter from elementary school before being arrested.
The case drew significant attention because of the circumstances surrounding the crash, the defendant’s blood alcohol level, and her decision to leave the scene immediately afterward. The victim, a respected former law enforcement officer who had spent decades serving his community, died almost instantly from injuries sustained in the collision.
Guilty Plea and Prison Sentence
On June 9, 2026, 38-year-old Kayla Tisdale pleaded guilty to one count of felony DUI resulting in death in connection with the fatal crash that occurred in April 2025. Following her guilty plea, Circuit Court Judge Michael Nettles sentenced her to 14 years in state prison. Under South Carolina law, she will be required to serve at least 85% of that sentence before becoming eligible for supervised release.
The conviction stemmed from a crash that claimed the life of 62-year-old Steven Marshall, a retired police sergeant who had relocated to the Myrtle Beach area after a lengthy career in law enforcement in Pennsylvania.
Prosecutors Describe Extreme Impairment
According to prosecutors from the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, Tisdale was “grossly impaired before 9 a.m.” on the day of the crash. Investigators later determined that her blood alcohol concentration was 0.19, nearly three times South Carolina’s legal limit of 0.08.
Authorities said Tisdale admitted she had been drinking since approximately 8:30 a.m. and attributed her drinking to stress stemming from a separate federal criminal investigation she was facing at the time.
The Fatal Crash
The deadly collision occurred on April 4, 2025, along Sea Mountain Highway in Little River, South Carolina, a community near North Myrtle Beach. According to prosecutors, Tisdale was driving a 2011 Cadillac SUV when she failed to yield to a motorcyclist traveling through the area.
Victim Was Riding a Honda Scooter
Steven Marshall was operating a 2003 Honda scooter when the collision occurred. The impact proved catastrophic. Prosecutors stated that Marshall died almost instantly from the injuries he sustained during the crash.
Marshall’s death shocked family members and former colleagues, many of whom remembered him as a dedicated public servant who spent decades protecting others during his law enforcement career.
Driver Left the Scene Instead of Staying to Help
One of the most troubling aspects of the case was what happened immediately after the crash.
According to investigators, Tisdale did not remain at the scene after striking Marshall. Instead, she fled and drove away. Authorities later learned that she went to pick up her daughter from elementary school after leaving the crash site.
Witnesses Helped Police Identify the Vehicle
Witnesses who saw the crash played a critical role in the investigation. Prosecutors said several people at the scene photographed Tisdale’s license plate before she drove away. Those photographs enabled law enforcement officers to quickly identify the suspect vehicle and locate the driver.
South Carolina Highway Patrol troopers eventually tracked Tisdale down and arrested her later that day as she arrived at a residence.
Evidence Revealed Drinking Earlier That Morning
During the investigation, authorities uncovered additional evidence regarding Tisdale’s alcohol consumption on the day of the crash.
Surveillance Video Captured Alcohol Purchase
Tisdale reportedly told investigators that she could not remember purchasing alcohol before the collision. However, surveillance footage from a Circle K convenience store contradicted that claim. The video showed her purchasing alcohol shortly before the crash occurred.
Prosecutors cited the footage as evidence of the extent of her intoxication and the decisions she made leading up to the fatal collision.
Remembering Steven Marshall
Steven Marshall was remembered as a respected former police officer who dedicated much of his life to public service.
Long Career in Law Enforcement
Before retiring and relocating to South Carolina, Marshall served approximately two decades with the Bethlehem Police Department in Pennsylvania. Colleagues and prosecutors described him as someone who spent years protecting and helping others throughout his career.
His death left family members grieving the loss of a husband, father, and retired officer whose life was cut short because of an impaired driver.
Prosecutor’s Statement Following Sentencing
Lead prosecutor Brandon Lanier addressed the tragedy after the sentencing hearing, emphasizing the devastating consequences of impaired driving. He said the community lost a career public servant because Tisdale chose to drive while heavily intoxicated early in the morning.
Lanier also noted that there were ultimately no winners in the case. While Marshall’s family lost a loved one, Tisdale’s young daughter would now grow up without her mother during important years of her life due to the lengthy prison sentence.
The prosecutor praised witnesses who assisted investigators by documenting the suspect vehicle and helping law enforcement quickly identify and locate the driver responsible for the crash.
Additional Federal Criminal Case
Tisdale’s legal troubles extend beyond the fatal DUI case.
Separate Money-Laundering Related Conviction
Earlier in 2026, she pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of misprision of a felony. Federal prosecutors alleged she concealed approximately $750,000 in cash and gold bullion connected to a money-laundering operation tied to drug trafficking.
At the time of her DUI sentencing, she was still awaiting sentencing in the federal case. The ongoing federal proceedings mean she could face additional legal consequences beyond the 14-year prison sentence imposed for the fatal crash.
A Tragic Reminder About Drunk Driving
The case stands as a stark example of the deadly consequences that can result from impaired driving. Prosecutors stressed that a respected retired police officer lost his life because an intoxicated driver chose to get behind the wheel after drinking heavily early in the day.
With a blood alcohol concentration of 0.19, nearly three times the legal limit, and evidence showing she continued driving after the collision rather than remaining at the scene, Tisdale’s actions ultimately led to a fatal crash, a lengthy prison sentence, and lasting devastation for multiple families.
