Family of Woman Who Drowned in HCSO Van Filing Lawsuit Against Hospital

The family of a woman who drowned in floodwaters while locked in an Horry County Sheriff’s office van have filed a lawsuit against the hospital that released her.
According to court documents, Wendy Newton had arranged transportation for herself from Chadbourn, NC to Mcleod-Loris Seacoast hospital and because she was having anxiety about hurricane Florence. When newton arrived at the hospital, staff ordered her to be committed to a facility with a psychiatric bed. Hours later hospital staff discharged her and arranged for transportation with HCSO.  Wendy Newton and Nicolette Green’s family’s say the hospital treated the women while they were being transported like criminals, not mental health patients.