Midlands crash on Christmas Eve killed one driver, other driver charged with DUI
A two-vehicle collision in Lexington County on Christmas Eve left one driver dead and another charged with DUI.
According to the state Highway Patrol, a 2014 Nissan SUV and a 2014 Kia SUV crashed into each other on Fish Hatchery Road near Sand Mountain Road at approximately 8:15 p.m. Tuesday night. Those two roads intersect south of South Congaree and Pine Ridge and north of Gaston.
The driver of the Nissan SUV, identified by the Lexington County Coroner’s Office as William Frederick Orris, 73, of Gaston, sustained fatal injuries in the crash.
“Mr. Orris, who was wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead on scene,” a release from the coroner’s office states. “The driver of the other vehicle was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.”
The driver of the Kia SUV has been identified as 37-year-old Joaqin Baltzar Hernandez of Lexington, who was charged with felony DUI involving death, the Highway Patrol announced.
No other injuries have been reported as a result of the collision.
“The Nissan SUV was traveling south on Fish Hatchery Road.” Highway Patrol Cpl. Nick Pye said in a release. “The Kia SUV was traveling north on Fish Hatchery Road. The two units collided.”
This story was originally published December 25, 2024 at 10:25 AM.
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