Troopers with the S.C. Highway Patrol continued Wednesday to investigate the fatal crash of a Myrtle Beach man, who was being pursued by a trooper last month, according to authorities.
The investigation also includes searching for a man, who is seen in a dash camera video jumping out of the vehicle about three minutes after the 25-year-old driver, Bryan Lamm, refused to stop for the trooper, said Cpl. Sonny Collins with the S.C. Highway Patrol.
Police do not know the man's identity, but are searching for information about him and would like to speak with him, Collins said.
"We'll be working on that until we figure out who he was," Collins said Wednesday.
In the video, the vehicle, a 2003 Volkswagen, is seen slowing down along Star Bluff Road and the passenger jumps out and runs into a nearby wooded area during the pursuit on Jan. 21. The trooper can be heard alerting other officers about the passenger, but they were not able to find him that night.
Police determined speed was a factor in Lamm's death, who crashed his vehicle along Long Bay Road near Water Lilly Road. In the video the trooper can be heard saying he estimated Lamm's vehicle was traveling about 100 mph along the dirt road before it crashed.
Lamm was pronounced dead at the scene of ash from multiple traumas, Horry County Chief Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard said.
"Speed was certainly a factor," Horry County Sheriff Sgt. Jeff Benton said previously of the crash. "He was going so fast the trooper didn't see the accident. . . .At that speed, down a narrow dirt road, it appears he lost control of the car."
In the video, Lamm's vehicle disappears around a curve and when it comes back into view, the vehicle is on its side with smoke coming from the front.
The vehicle was briefly on fire before police used fire extinguishers to put it out before firefighters and other emergency crews arrived, the video showed. The trooper can also be heard telling another officer that there were two prior vehicle stops on that vehicle in September.
It was unclear why Lamm refused to stop for the trooper to address the traffic violation, Benton said.
Lamm's driver's license was suspended and he had a previous criminal record that included reckless driving and driving under the influence charges.
A trooper with the S.C. Highway Patrol attempted to stop a vehicle about 11:15 p.m. Jan. 21 that disregarded a traffic signal or sign on S.C. 22 at S.C. 90, Collins said.
Horry County Sheriff's deputies investigated the crash because the trooper attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle. The crash occurred at 11:24 p.m. Jan. 21.
Copyright 2014 - The Sun News (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
