Testimony began Monday afternoon for one of two former Horry County deputies charged in the drowning deaths of two women, after Hurricane Florence, according to Twelfth Circuit Solicitor Ed Clements.
Clements said Stephen Flood is being tried this week.
He called three employees with the Horry County Sheriff's Office, including Flood's former supervisor, to the stand.
Officials said Flood and Joshua Bishop drove into floodwaters in Marion County on Sept. 18, 2018, after Hurricane Florence with two women in their transport van.
Clements initially said that he would try both men together. No word as to why they’re being tried separately.
Wendy Newton, 45, of Shallotte, N.C. and Nicolette Green, 43, of Myrtle Beach, died inside of that detention center transport van when it was overtaken by floodwaters.
Flood was charged with two counts of reckless homicide and two counts of involuntary manslaughter. Bishop was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter.
The reckless homicide charges carry a prison sentence of zero to 10 years and the involuntary manslaughter charges carry a prison sentence of zero to five years.
Flood and Bishop were fired from the Horry County Sheriff's Office. Termination papers state they were fired for "wanton disregard for the safety of persons."
Clements said Flood was stubborn and told by his supervisor to use a safe route to avoid any flooding but didn't listen.
"Mr. Flood created the risk for those two ladies in that van. By driving through that water. Now, if he had gone the other route. They'd be safe. But, they'd been alive today. But, he disregarded that risk. Looking at what he saw in front of him. But, he continued to drive on. He could have listened and not made that horrible decision that resulted in those two deaths of those innocent people. But, he didn't. Because as he mentioned. He wanted to get home a little earlier. Get home not late. Save some time," said Clements.
Flood's lawyer, T. Jarrett Bouchette with the Floyd Law Firm said what happened was a tragic accident and not a crime.
"When tragedy happens, our first instinct is to look for somebody to blame. Try to hold somebody to blame. Sometimes, we rush to judgment. And I think that's what we are going to see here. The state is hoping that they can make Stephen Flood the scapegoat for this terrible, tragic accident. But, that's all it was, was an accident," said Bouchette.
It's not clear if Flood will take the stand in his own defense.
The trial is expected to wrap up Friday.
ABC15 will keep you covered with what happens during the trial and when a verdict is reached.