Man sentenced in wrong-way crash that killed North Greenville firefighter

GREENVILLE, S.C. — A 27-year-old Greer man was sentenced to 30 years for a chase and wrong-way crash that killed North Greenville Fire Dept. firefighter Lt. Jordan Howard in September of last year.

John William Kennedy pleaded guilty Wednesday to attempted murder, grand larceny, reckless homicide and lesser charges, according to 13th Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins.

Kennedy was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the attempted murder charge and 10 years in prison for the grand larceny charge, the latter of which was suspended. Sentences imposed for the lesser charges were set to run concurrent with the attempted murder charge. Under state law, Kennedy will not be eligible for parole until he has served 85 percent of the 20-year sentence.

Lt. Howard, 30, was on his way to work at the Tigerville Road station from his home in Marietta when his motorcycle was struck head-on by the Ford F-150 driven by Kennedy on Highway 25 a few miles north of Travelers Rest. Deputies were investigating a report of a stolen vehicle on West Blue Ridge Drive in Greenville when the chase with Kennedy began. (Watch dashcam footage of the 100+ m.p.h. chase through morning traffic in Greenville and Travelers Rest here.)

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