North Myrtle Beach: Another Twist in the Tragic DUI Case
If you live in North Myrtle Beach, chances are you’ve heard about the heart-wrenching tragedy that shook our community back on Father’s Day weekend in 2023. Sadly, it looks like that story is far from over. The woman at the heart of the incident, Nancy Bishop, is back in jail following a violation of her home detention, and the details are concerning.
A Devastating Accident
To jog your memory, on that fateful June weekend, Nancy was driving her black Lexus when she veered into oncoming traffic on the Robert Edge Parkway bridge. It ended in a head-on collision with a white Nissan, tragically taking the life of Thomas Brown. He was just 41 years old, and in the vehicle with him were his wife, Ana, and their three children. While the family was rushed to the hospital, Bishop was also injured and taken in for treatment.
The Legal Fallout
In the aftermath of the crash, police discovered an open container of wine inside Bishop’s car, along with a cup in the cupholder — not a good look. At a hearing, it was revealed that she had a blood alcohol content of .22, which is nearly three times the legal limit. To make matters worse, Bishop had a previous DUI conviction in Massachusetts back in 2016.
Just to recap a bit: Bishop was initially jailed for just four hours after turning herself in almost two months after the accident. She was able to secure a $100,000 bond and had been under house arrest with GPS monitoring since then. However, on August 26, 2024, deputies conducted a compliance check at her residence and found “multiple bottles of alcohol.” And just like that, she is back behind bars at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center.
What About the Family?
As for Thomas Brown’s family, Ana filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Bishop in September 2023. This lawsuit was settled earlier this year for a sum of $175,000, but it appears there’s a catch: all further claims tied to the incident have now been dropped. This means that Ana and her family won’t have the option to bring Bishop back to civil court regarding this case. It’s a tough pill for them to swallow, no doubt.
What’s Next?
Now, all eyes are on Bishop, who has a mandatory appearance coming up in the next few days. The community has been rocked by this tragedy, and it’s hard to find words to express the sorrow we all feel for the Brown family. With families still reeling from loss, the last thing we need is another chapter in this sad saga.
In conclusion, let’s keep the Brown family in our thoughts as they continue to navigate this painful reality. And as more updates come in, we’ll be sure to keep everyone informed. Remember, our community thrives when we’re united, especially during tough times.
Author: STAFF HERE MYRTLE BEACH
The HERE Myrtle Beach Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Myrtle Beach community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Myrtle Beach Our team includes lifelong Myrtle Beach residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent developments along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Coastal Carolina University programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
