71-year-old killed when SUV overturns in Lexington County crash

A West Columbia man was killed in a Monday afternoon crash in Lexington County, according to troopers.

The deadly crash happened around 6:15 p.m. Monday on Jessamine Road near Orangeburg Drive, about a mile west of West Columbia, according to Trooper 1st Class Tyler Tidwell of the S.C. Highway Patrol. That’s just off U.S. 378 near Interstate 20.

A Jeep Wrangler was traveling south on Jessamine Road when the vehicle exited the right side of the roadway and hit an embankment, causing it to overturn, Tidwell said.

Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher on Tuesday identified the driver as 71-year-old Ronald Joseph Dasta of West Columbia. Dasta died at the scene from his injuries, Fisher said.

Fisher said Dasta was wearing a seat belt. However, Tidwell said he was not wearing a seat belt.

This story was originally published May 7, 2019 at 7:41 AM.