Body recovered after woman being chased by deputies drove into an SC river, sheriff says

The Wednesday afternoon search for a South Carolina woman who led deputies on a chase and went missing after crashing a vehicle into the Broad River ended when her body was recovered, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department .

Tierra Hamer, a 23-year-old Columbia resident, was identified as the victim, Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford said Thursday morning.

Deputies got involved when they responded to a report of a domestic violence incident in the 1600 block of Long Creek Drive , the sheriff’s office said Wednesday in a news release. That’s in Columbia, near Exit 65 on Interstate 20, which is the junction with Broad River Road.

On their way to the scene, deputies learned that the man who reported the incident said a woman hit him with her vehicle and was trying to do it again, according to the release.

Information on the man’s condition was not available.

Deputies located the woman — later identified as Hamer — and intervened, but she drove away in her vehicle toward Omarest Drive , the sheriff’s department said.

That led to a chase, as deputies pursued the woman for about a minute before she drove off Omarest Drive’s dead end and into the Broad River, according to the release.

Several deputies immediately jumped into the water, and tried to locate and rescue Hamer, the sheriff’s department said. Other deputies called for additional help, including the sheriff’s department’s dive team, Richland County EMS, the Columbia Fire Department and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and multiple rescue teams were deployed into the water, according to the release.

About 90 minutes later, members of dive team located Hamer submerged under water. She was taken onto the shore where emergency responders made several rescue attempts, but she was unresponsive, the sheriff’s department said. EMS pronounced Hamer deceased and the coroner’s office was notified, according to the release.

“Our hearts are heavy with this loss of life and we will continue to support the family, as well as our deputies,” the sheriff’s department said.

The incident continues to be investigated by the sheriff’s department.

During the search, drivers were asked to avoid the area, which included the ends of Omarest, Romain and Koulter drives. Omarest Drive is the site of the Richland County Rowing Center.

“I wish they would just lock that gate,” said area resident Debra Starks, who came home during the search. “People causing problems down there day and night.”

Photo journalist Tracy Glantz contributed to this story.