Columbia man was killed when two hit-and-run vehicles ran over him, SC officials say
A Columbia man was killed in Richland County and there’s a search for the drivers of two vehicles that crashed into the pedestrian before driving away in the hit-and-run collisions, South Carolina officials said.
Ronald Giddens, 65, died Thursday after being hit by the vehicles, the Richland County Coroner’s Office said in a Monday news release.
The deadly incident happened at about 10:30 p.m. Thursday on U.S. 1/Two Notch Road, according to Master Trooper David Jones of South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Two vehicles driving south on Two Notch Road were near the intersection with Leaside Drive as they hit the pedestrian, then left the scene, Jones said. That’s in a section of Dentsville densely packed with retail businesses and restaurants, close to the Arcadia Lakes area, and less than a mile from Columbia Place Mall.
Giddens was crossing the northbound lanes of Two Notch Road when he was hit, the coroner’s office said.
There is no word if the Giddens died at the scene, or was taken to an area hospital before dying.
No other injuries were reported.
There are two vehicles of interest.
The first of the two vehicles involved might be a 2007-2013 dark colored Chevrolet Silverado with chrome wheels, according to Highway Patrol. The second vehicle could be a late 2000s white Chevrolet Uplander minivan.
The Chevy Silverado pickup truck “will have damage to the driver side headlight and driver side mirror,” Highway Patrol said. The Chevy Uplander minivan might “have damage to the bottom of the front bumper.”
The hit-and-run continues to be investigated by Highway Patrol.
Anyone with information on the drivers or the collision is asked to call Highway Patrol at 803-896-9621 or 800-768-1501, or submit a tip to CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip. Tips can also be texted to *HP.
Through Friday, 117 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2022 — and 14 were pedestrians — according to the Department of Public Safety.
In 2021, 186 pedestrians were among the 1,149 people who died on South Carolina roads, DPS said.
At least eight people have died in Richland County crashes in 2022, and three were pedestrians, DPS reported. Last year, there were 68 deaths reported in Richland County, and 15 were pedestrians, according to DPS data.
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This story was originally published February 27, 2022 at 9:01 AM.
