At approximately 2:20 a.m. on February 24, 2019, Paul Terry Murdaugh crashed his family boat into the Archers Creek Bridge in Beaufort, South Carolina. On board the boat at the time of the accident were Mallory Beach and her boyfriend, Anthony Cook, Anthony's cousin Connor Cook, and his girlfriend Miley Altman as well as Murdaugh's former girlfriend Morgan Doughty. Beach was killed in the accident and Murdaugh was charged in relation to the accident. Paul was murdered along with his mother in 2021, and his father is currently on trial for their murders. Accident Paul Murdaugh purchased alcohol in the hours before the accident at a convenience store in Ridgeland, South Carolina using his brother's ID. The three couples met at Murdaugh's grandfather's Chechesee River house and boarded a speed boat to travel to an oyster roast. At 1 a.m., during the return trip, they stopped at a dockside bar in Beaufort where Murdaugh and another passenger drank shots. Murdaugh began behaving erratically, and while other passengers asked him to allow someone else to drive the boat, he refused. At 2:20 a.m. the boat hit a piling on the bridge to Parris Island. Following the accident The passengers were transported to a nearby hospital - except for Anthony Cook, who insisted on staying behind to wait for news about Mallory. Connor had a broken jaw, and Morgan's hand was injured, requiring surgery. Paul Murdaugh was uncooperative with medical staff. Several hours after the crash, his blood alcohol content was .24 - three times the legal limit. Paul and Alex claimed that Connor Cook had been driving the boat; however evidence from his injuries proved that he was a passenger, and he was not charged. Paul Murdaugh was charged with three felony counts, including boating under the influence and boating under the influence causing death. Paul pleaded not guilty and was released on bond. On June 7, 2021, Paul and his mother Maggie were murdered, and the charges against Paul were dropped. His father Alex Murdaugh was charged with homicide on July 15, 2022 and is currently on trial. Lawsuits Beach's mother Renee Beach filed a lawsuit against several members of the Murdaugh family: Paul, who was driving the boat; Paul's brother Buster, who allgegedly lent the under-age Paul his driver's license so that he could obtain alcohol; and Paul's mother Maggie, who allegedly allowed Paul to use the boat while