Showing respect
Anderson County Sheriff Chad McBride salutes the hearse transporting the body of deputy Mark Garrett. Garrett was killed last Wednesday in a motorcycle accident on Anderson Highway. More than a dozen officers escorted the body from AnMed hospital to the funeral home on Thursday. Garrett’s funeral was held Sunday at NewSpring Church.
Sheriff’s Office Detective killed in motorcycle accident
An off duty Anderson County Sheriff’s Office Detective was fatally injured last Wednesday (Oct. 1) when the driver of car turned in front of his motorcycle on Anderson Drive.
According to Anderson County Coroner Greg Shore, the driver of the motorcycle, Mark C. Garrett, 56 of Williamston, was killed in the wreck.
Reports state that Anderson County 911 received a call just after 1 pm on Wednesday for an accident involving a car and a motorcycle on Anderson Drive at Beaverdam Road in Williamston. Responders arrived on scene and found one male victim deceased.
Preliminary investigation showed that the victim was driving his motorcycle on Anderson Drive when a car turned in front of him causing the collision. The victim was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.
According to the SC Highway Patrol, the driver of the vehicle, Douglas H. Lueck was arrested and charged last Wednesday night with felony driving under the influence resulting in death.
The incident was investigated by the Anderson County Office of the Coroner and the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
A statement from Coroner’s Office said: “Detective Garrett served his community his entire life and will be missed by all who knew him”.
Garrett was well known in the law enforcement and EMS community as well as Williamston.
He served as a reserve deputy at the Clemson Police Department, Williamston Police Department and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office before being promoted to the Criminal Investigations Division with the Sheriff’s Office. He was also a member of Whitefield Fire Department.
The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office stated: “Our law enforcement family is hurting after we lost one of our own in a motorcycle accident.”
“Detective Mark Garrett had a signature personality, filled with an abundance of stories, jokes that could make anyone laugh and a disposition that made any newcomer instantly feel like family. It’s how he was able to connect with victims during lengthy investigations and his relatability put everyone at ease.”
Garrett began his public service career in the fire service and moved into law enforcement starting in 2009. He contributed to several Upstate departments as a reserve deputy.
Garrett climbed the ACSO ranks and eventually settled into the Criminal Investigations Division where he helped spearhead the new Cold Case unit and earned Detective of the Quarter twice within the last year.
“The positions Mark valued the most in life had nothing to do with work and everything to do with family. He was a proud husband, grandfather, and father to even one of our own deputies, Hunter Garrett.”
“Our hearts are extremely heavy as we know our friend, Detective Garrett, had a far reach within the Upstate. We extend our prayers to every department he selflessly served, including his coworkers within our agency, his friends and family. You always had a story to share, and we’ll never stop sharing yours, Detective Garrett.”
Garrett attended High Praises Church and was a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church and Pelzer Masonic Lodge #217.
