H*4689 Concurrent Resolution, By Kelley, Barfield, Edge, Keegan, Miller and 
Witherspoon
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEND MR. SANTI JIMONGKONKUL OF HORRY COUNTY FOR
 HIS REMARKABLE ACTS OF COURAGE IN THE FACE OF LIFE-THREATENING DANGER WHEN HE
 RISKED HIS OWN LIFE TO SAVE THE LIFE OF CRYSTAL GAIL HUGGINS.

   02/07/02  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-12
   02/12/02  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-12

TO COMMEND MR. SANTI JIMONGKONKUL OF HORRY COUNTY FOR HIS REMARKABLE ACTS OF COURAGE IN THE FACE OF LIFE-THREATENING DANGER WHEN HE RISKED HIS OWN LIFE TO SAVE THE LIFE OF CRYSTAL GAIL HUGGINS.

Whereas, Mr. Santi Jimongkonkul, owner of Santino's Pizza and Subs in Horry County, had no idea on December 29, 2001, that he would become a hero that day by putting himself in harm's way to save the life of a fellow South Carolinian who was facing certain death; and

Whereas, on that fateful day, at approximately six-thirty in the evening, Boyd Matthew Meekins attacked his former girlfriend, Crystal Gail Huggins, on Highway 701 when he shot at her car and removed her from a passerby's vehicle at gunpoint; and

Whereas, Deputy Sheriff Lieutenant Randy Gerald of the Horry County Sheriff's Office happened upon the scene and was attempting to render aid to Ms. Huggins when Mr. Meekins approached Lieutenant Gerald's personal vehicle and fatally shot him three times; and

Whereas, Ms. Huggins had been able to run down Highway 701 and flag down Mr. Jimongkonkul who, without hesitation or regard for his own personal safety, advised Ms. Huggins to get into his truck and the two sped north toward the town of Loris; with Meekins pursuing Mr. Jimongkonkul and Ms. Huggins at speeds in excess of one hundred miles per hour, firing shots at Mr. Jimongkonkul's truck and ramming the vehicle in an attempt to run it off the road; and

Whereas, Mr. Meekins then sped past Mr. Jimongkonkul's truck, turned around and headed back straight towards Mr. Jimongkonkul and Ms. Huggins with the intention of hitting them head on; but then swerving at the last second, wrecking his vehicle, Mr. Jimongkonkul then drove directly to the Loris Police Department to summon assistance and after a twenty-four hour multi-agency manhunt, Mr. Meekins was found and arrested; and

Whereas, the bravery and fortitude shown by Mr. Jimongkonkul qualifies him as a bona fide hero, and the General Assembly is more than proud to pause in its deliberations in order to recognize Mr. Jimongkonkul's selfless acts of courage amidst the carnage of that day. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly, by this resolution, commend Mr. Santi Jimongkonkul of Horry County, for his remarkable acts of courage in the face of life-threatening danger when he risked his own life to save the life of Crystal Gail Huggins.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mr. Santi Jimongkonkul of Horry County.