Felony death arrest made in April 22 fatal crash

• Drunk driver from Cerro Gordo arrested on felony motor vehicle death involving head-on crash on April 22 that killed West Columbus High School custodian.

By BOB HIGH
Staff Writer

Brandon Dante Jenkins, 22, of Oak Street, Cerro Gordo, was arrested late Thursday on a charge of felony death by motor vehicle, and placed in jail under a $50,000 secured bond.

Highway Patrol Trooper Brian Ezzell reported the arrest of Jenkins, who is charged with driving drunk and causing a head-on crash last Tuesday night that killed Harris J. Bellamy, 78, of Mt. Calvary Road, Clarkton.

The crash occurred on an open, straight stretch of U.S. 76 about 1.5 miles east of the school where Bellamy had worked since 1992. Bellamy had just left a meeting at the school and was on his way home, records show.

Bellamy was instantly killed when Jenkins’ 1994 Chevrolet car slammed into the front of Bellamy’s 1974 Chevrolet pickup truck at an estimated 65 mph.

The victim was trapped in the wreckage, and it took Cerro Gordo and Fair Bluff firefighters almost an hour to remove his body.

Jenkins was treated for injuries he received in the crash. He was jailed that night on a charge of driving while impaired.

Ezzell reported Jenkins took a Breathalyzer test 4 1/2 hours after the wreck and had a blood-alcohol content of 0.17.