Motorcycle rider ejected from bike in crash on Midlands road is identified by coroner
The motorcycle rider who was killed in a Friday night crash by a Midlands road has been publicly identified by the Fairfield County Coroner’s Office.
James Cohen is the motorcycle rider who died in the accident, Coroner Chris Hill said Monday. The 48-year-old Winnsboro resident died at the scene, according to Hill.
The single-vehicle collision happened at about 10:40 p.m., approximately three miles south of Winnsboro, said Master Trooper Brandon Lee of the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Cohen was driving south near Runway Road when the bike ran off the right side of Highway 269, according to Lee.
The 2007 Suzuki motorcycle then “spilled,” Lee said.
After losing control, Cohen was ejected from the motorcycle, according to Hill.
There was no word if Cohen wore a helmet.
No other injuries were reported.
Information about what caused Cohen to lose control of the motorcycle was not available, but the crash continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol and coroner’s office.
Through Sunday, 650 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2022, including 95 motorcycle riders, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Helmets were not worn in 54 of the deadly motorcycle wrecks, DPS reported.
In 2021, 159 motorcycle riders were among the 1,194 people who died on South Carolina roads, according to DPS.
At least five people have died in Fairfield County crashes in 2022, and this is the first involving a motorcycle rider, DPS reported. Last year, 10 deaths were reported there, according to DPS data.
This story was originally published August 20, 2022 at 9:40 AM.
