A judge sentenced a Darlington man to nine years in prison after he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence during a 2004 crash that killed his passenger.

Franklin McIver Suggs, 35, of 340 Doneraile St., Darlington, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of felony DUI resulting in death, punishable by as much as 25 years in prison, according to a press release issued Wednesday by S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster's office.

At 7:30 p.m. March 13, 2004, Suggs was driving at more than 100 mph when he ran his vehicle off the left side of Freedom Parkway south of Florence, according to S.C. Highway Patrol reports. The car overturned and came to rest in a ditch full of water.

Suggs climbed from the vehicle, a 1985 Chevrolet Corvette, and walked to a pay phone, where he called his wife to pick him up. About three to four hours later, Suggs called law enforcement to report the incident, according to the release.

Authorities found passenger Robbie Mooring, 26, dead in the vehicle. He wasn't wearing a seat belt, highway patrol reports show. Florence County Coroner M.G. "Bubba" Matthews pronounced Mooring dead at the scene.

Suggs was arrested, and blood samples indicated he was still drunk hours after the wreck with a 0.11 blood-alcohol level, according to McMaster's press release.

Suggs admitted to highway patrol troopers that he had been drinking all day before the crash and hadn't had a drink since, according to the press release.

Suggs was wearing a seat belt and suffered minor injuries in the crash.

Judge John L. Breeden Jr., presiding over general sessions court of Florence County, sentenced Suggs.

The case was investigated by the highway patrol and prosecuted by the attorney general's office.

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