Dr. Lance Lowe, a pediatrician and founder of Palmetto Pediatrics of the Lowcountry in Beaufort County, South Carolina, was arrested Friday night by the South Carolina Highway Patrol for driving under the influence (DUI). The arrest followed a car collision near Highway 170 and Okatie Center Blvd., less than two miles from the practice’s Okatie office in Legacy Medical Plaza. He was booked into Beaufort County Detention Center around 9:30 p.m., released the next afternoon on a $1,664 cash bond, and also charged with driving under license suspension (unrelated to DUI).
Key Charges and Refusal
- DUI: Lowe refused a breathalyzer test, as confirmed by Trooper Nick Pye.
- Additional charge: Driving under license suspension.
Court records confirm the details, and the incident occurred close to the practice’s locations in Okatie and Hilton Head (Main Street).
Prior History
This marks at least his second DUI-related incident:
- December 13, 2014: Charged with DUI, child endangerment, and open containers in Charleston.
- Consequences: Temporary medical license suspension in January 2015; reinstated May 7, 2015; fined $200 and publicly reprimanded in 2016 by the SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation and State Board of Medical Examiners.
His medical license, issued in 2001, remains in good standing as of Monday and expires mid-2027.
Current Status
- Employment: Unknown; his bio page was removed from the practice’s website (last archived via Wayback Machine in November), though he was still listed as a doctor initially. The office was preparing a statement.
- Contact attempts: Unsuccessful via listed phone numbers.
This case highlights ongoing scrutiny of medical professionals’ conduct in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, especially with prior disciplinary actions. For official updates, check Beaufort County court records or the SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation public database.
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