Pedestrian in a coma; Man charged out of jail

By Natalie Caula
ncaula@abcnews4.com

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) -- Kenneth Freohlich told a bond court judge on Monday his son was still in a coma.

Beau Freohlich, 25, of Folly Beach was hospitalized after he was hit by Matthew Fisher, 31, of Summerville, according to Charleston County Sheriff's Office Major Jim Brady. The accident occurred on Sunday at 3:15 a.m. near the intersection of Folly and Grimball Road.

Freohlich says his son has massive head trauma, a broken collar bone and a broken left arm.

"My son could be dead right now," he said outside bond court Monday morning.

Judge Linda Lombard set a $25 thousand bond for Fisher, who was charged with felony DUI. His attorney, David Aylor says Fisher works two jobs and is pursuing a master's degree in speech therapy. He's currently employed by Summerville Speech, according to the report.

"As soon as the collision occurred, he did stop his vehicle at the fire department and asked for help. So, this was not a situation that he was trying to run from the scene," Aylor said.

In a sheriff's office incident report, the deputy noted Fisher's "speech was slurred, he had bloodshot watery eyes, and an odor of a consumed alcoholic beverage." The report also states Fisher showed signs of impairment during a field sobriety test.

Investigators say Fisher also took a blood and urine test. The results of that test have not been released.

Kenneth Freohlich says he is now waiting to find out the extent of his son's injuries. He worries the head trauma may lead to permanent damage.

"That should be me laying in that bed, not my son. That's how a parent feels," he said.