RICHLAND COUNTY, SC — Two Columbia residents died in separate traffic accidents Saturday night.

In the first, Ruth J. Hutchison, 77, of Windsor Lake Boulevard was in a single-car accident around 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Rabon and Rawlins Road in Northeast Richland, coroner Gary Watts said.

Hutchison died at the scene from trauma, Watts said. The S.C. Highway Patrol is investigating.

In the second, Peter Kremlick, 77, of Woodfern Court, died when he swerved to miss another vehicle and struck a utility pole on Columbiana Drive Saturday morning, Watts said.

Kremlick refused treatment at the scene, Watts said, saying he was OK. But later in the day he started having headaches and became confused. He was taken for medical treatment but died Monday morning at Lexington Medical Center around 11 a.m. from a head injury associated with the crash, Watts said.

The Columbia Police Department is investigating.

From Staff Reports