Pedestrian hit and killed by state police vehicle near downtown Columbia

A pedestrian died after being hit by a state-owned vehicle near downtown Columbia early Tuesday, according to troopers.

It happened around 6:20 a.m. on the 2500 block of Millwood Avenue near House Street, according to the S.C. Highway Patrol.That’s just off Gervais Street.

Richland County Coroner Gary Watts identified the pedestrian was 57-year-old Freddie James Wilson Jr., of Columbia. Wilson was hit by a vehicle while he was crossing the roadway and later died at Prisma Health Richland Hospital.

An autopsy indicated Wilson died of blunt force injuries to the upper body, Watts said.

The collision involved a State Law Enforcement Division vehicle, according to Lance Cpl. David Jones of the S.C. Highway Patrol. Wilson was not in a crosswalk when he was hit, Jones said.

SLED spokesman Thom Berry offered the agency’s condolences to Wilson’s family and said Special Agent Robert Turnley, the driver, has been placed on administrative duties while the incident is investigated. SLED will conduct its own internal review, Berry said.

Turnley has been with SLED since March 2004, Berry said.

This story was originally published January 29, 2019 at 7:15 AM.