South Carolina: Funeral to be held for firefighter struck on way to work

The motorcyclist killed by a driver who sped away from deputies and drove the wrong way on a highway was a North Greenville firefighter. The funeral for 30-year-old Lt. Jordan Howard of Marietta will be 2 p.m. Sunday.

A pickup truck hit Howard’s motorcycle head-on as he drove to work Thursday morning on U.S. Highway 25. He is survived by his wife of three years and their four-month-old daughter.

Authorities say the truck’s driver was 25-year-old John Kennedy of Greer. WYFF reports Kennedy’s been arrested at least 10 times since turning 18. Previous charges include drunken driving, burglary and marijuana possession.

Greenville County Sheriff Steve Loftis says the officer initially hit by the truck suffered minor injuries. He was investigating a stolen vehicle report in a convenience store parking lot.