Press Release from the Spartanburg County Solicitor
A Wellford man received a 13-year prison sentence today for a drug-related wreck that critically injured a Spartanburg man.
Gary W. Gahagan, 56, pleaded guilty to felony driving under the influence with great bodily injury and possession of methamphetamine for the Dec. 30, 2018 wreck at the intersection of North Pine Street and McCravy Drive. Circuit Judge Grace Knie issued the sentence.
The wreck occurred a few minutes before noon when a Honda Accord driven by Gahagan crossed the median and struck a Ford F150 truck driven by a 68-year-old man.
The man sustained life-changing injuries to his leg and foot. The victim underwent multiple surgeries and he had 3 metal rods placed in his leg.
The victim’s wife was pinned in the wreckage and she sustained severe bruising.
Spartanburg police found a glass pipe in Gahagan’s car along with 2 bags that collectively contained less than a gram of methamphetamine.
Police utilized a search warrant to obtain Gahagan’s medical records. Gahagan had amphetamines, opiates and oxycodone in his system when the wreck occurred.
Gahagan’s prior criminal record included convictions for 2 counts of driving under the influence, second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, obtaining controlled substances by fraud and possession of methamphetamine.
