South Carolina woman’s bizarre excuse for horror crash that killed identical twin sisters and their friends

A South Carolina woman has claimed she suffered a psychotic episode and lost touch with reality when she killed three teenagers in a horrific car crash.

Melissa Ann Parker, 46, was sentenced earlier this week to 25 years behind bars after being found guilty of several crimes, including drunken driving causing death.

Parker was behind the wheel of her car when she struck twin sisters Elleana and Isabella Lee Gaddis, 17, and Brianna Lynn Foster, 18, in August 2021.

The three teens were just ten minutes from their destination when Parker’s Hummer SUV struck the teens while they were driving on Interstate 26.

This week, Parker said in court that she had had a psychotic episode and tried to treat herself with THC gummies when she “lost touch with reality.”

The three teens were just ten minutes from their destination when Parker’s Hummer SUV struck the teens while they were driving on Interstate 26.

Parker had stolen the Hummer from a Circle K parking lot and after police were called to the scene, she almost hit a responding officer, according to CBS4.

Authorities say she then drove the vehicle the wrong way onto the highway before colliding with the sedan with the three girls inside.

The sole survivor in the girl’s car, Maci Watts, recalled at the time: “I got out of the car, stood up and started screaming for help.

“I later found out that the defendant had crawled out of her car and walked away.”

Police said at the time that they managed to track Parker to a nearby residential area, where they said she was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

She later revealed at a local hospital that she had taken the gummies and Adderall before getting behind the wheel.

On Monday, she was convicted of three counts of driving under the influence resulting in death, one count each of assault, grand theft and hit-and-run causing minor personal injury.

Barry Barnette, 7th Circuit Court attorney, said, “This should never have happened – using drugs and driving is the same as driving under the influence.

“In this case, Parker’s decision to mix THC gummies with Adderall and then get behind the wheel of a stolen car led to an absolute nightmare situation and the deaths of three young women.”

On Monday, she was convicted of three counts of driving under the influence resulting in death, one count each of assault, grand theft and hit-and-run causing minor personal injury.

Police said at the time that they managed to track Parker to a nearby residential area, where they said she was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Parker was represented by Andrew Johnston of the Johnston Law Firm located in Spartanburg, near where the girls died.

In a statement, he said: “On the night of this tragedy, Melissa had a psychotic episode and attempted to treat herself with THC gummies.

‘She lost touch with reality and thought she was running for her life in a stolen car. In her panic, she drove the wrong way on the interstate.

‘Three young girls died as a result. Melissa accepted full responsibility for her actions.

She later revealed at a local hospital that she had taken the gummies and Adderall before getting behind the wheel

“We believe the sentence was appropriate, both given the harm she caused and the rare circumstances of this case.”

At a 2021 hearing, the parents of the three teens spoke about the devastating loss.

Andy Gaddis, the twin girls’ father, said Fox: ‘They were identical twins. They came in together and I hope they were asleep, but I’m glad they came out together.”

‘We all feel like we are dying, minute by minute. We have the feeling that things are not going to work out.”

Brianna’s mother Jodi Foster added: ‘They didn’t deserve this. They had their whole lives ahead of them.’