Motorcycle rider killed in two-vehicle crash in Lexington County, coroner says

A West Columbia motorcycle rider died during the weekend in a two-vehicle crash.

Owen Dwain Harness, 65, of West Columbia, died in the wreck, according to Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher. The crash happened at about 4:10 p.m. Saturday in the 6900 block of the Edmund Highway in Lexington County, near Pelion.

A news release from the coroner’s office said Harness was “was traveling westbound on Edmund Highway when he went left of center and was struck by a vehicle traveling eastbound.” Harness was not wearing a helmet, the coroner’s office said. He was taken to a local hospital after the crash, where he died from his injuries.

The coroner’s office and the South Carolina Highway Patrol continue to investigate the wreck.

This story was originally published November 20, 2023 at 12:32 PM.

Chris Trainor

The State

Chris Trainor is a retail reporter for The State and has been working for newspapers in South Carolina for more than 21 years, including previous stops at the (Greenwood) Index-Journal and the (Columbia) Free Times. He is the winner of a host of South Carolina Press Association awards, including honors in column writing, government beat reporting, profile writing, food writing, business beat reporting, election coverage, social media and more.