Aiken man pleads guilty to driving under influence

An Aiken man was sentenced to spend several years in jail after youthful irresponsibility turned into tragedy.

Shane Spires, 21, of Aiken was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to felony driving under the influence with great bodily harm as a result.

Spires and a friend had been drinking and were preparing for another party while driving through Aiken on Jan. 23, 2009.

Both Spires and the victim were legally intoxicated.

Spires was at the wheel when he tried to turn at speed, hit a curb and flipped the car repeatedly.

The victim was thrown from the car and suffered massive injuries.

The victim has been confined to a hospital bed ever since, is unable to walk or speak and has incurred more than $400,000 in medical bills.

Spires had a .107 blood alcohol level and tested positive for Ecstasy, marijuana and other drugs.

Spires told Judge Doyet "Jack" Early he thought the roommates' lifestyle of drinking and drugs would catch up to them and "something bad was going to happen."

"Well it did," Early snapped back. "He's half dead and isn't going to have a decent life. And you're fixing to go to jail."

Early added that he hoped the tragedy would be a lesson to young people who believe they are invincible.