Crime & Courts

71-year-old South Carolina man dies in single-car accident

Robert “Bobby” Jones Jr., 71, died on Dec. 22, 2023 around 10 p.m. when his Ford Ranger pickup truck overturned near his home in Kershaw County, South Carolina.
Robert “Bobby” Jones Jr., 71, died on Dec. 22, 2023 around 10 p.m. when his Ford Ranger pickup truck overturned near his home in Kershaw County, South Carolina.

A 71-year-old man died in a car accident close to his home near Camden late Friday, authorities said.

Robert “Bobby” Jones Jr. died after his vehicle veered off the road in the 1800 block of Kershaw Highway near McLeod Road around 10:10 p.m., according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

“As the crow flies he was 200 feet from his front door,” said Kershaw County Coroner David West.

Jones was northbound, apparently heading to his home about five miles north of Camden, West said, when his 1996 Ford Ranger pickup truck veered off the roadway to the right.

The truck then overturned. 911 was called at 10:12 p.m., but Jones, who West said was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene. No other vehicles were involved.

West, who noted that the car did not strike anything, told The State that his office was looking into whether Jones had any underlying medical conditions.

“He wasn’t going fast at all,” said West.

Jones grew up in the area and lived there all his life, West said.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

This story was originally published December 23, 2023 at 4:13 PM.

Ted Clifford
The State
Ted Clifford is the statewide accountability reporter at The State Newspaper. Formerly the crime and courts reporter, he has covered the Murdaugh saga, state and federal court, as well as criminal justice and public safety in the Midlands and across South Carolina. He is the recipient of the 2023 award for best beat reporting by the South Carolina Press Association.
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