SC university student hit and killed by a speeding car, Columbia police say

A South Carolina college student was killed Thursday morning by a speeding car, according to police.

Just before 8 a.m., a driver hit a pedestrian as she was walking to class at Columbia International University and she fell to the ground on campus, the Columbia Police Department announced on social media.

The driver then got out of his car to check on her.

The woman was taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead from her injuries. The university identified her as a graduate student in the School of Counseling at the university in northern Richland County.

“Columbia International University is mourning the death of student Patricia Wolfe,” university said in a news release. “The student body, faculty and staff are praying for Wolfe’s family and others involved in the accident.”

The university is offering counseling to anyone in need.

The Columbia Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit is investigating the incident. It determined the driver was driving “too fast for conditions.”

Columbia International University is a private, Christian college with just over 2,000 students enrolled. It is located in north Columbia.

This story was originally published February 15, 2024 at 3:52 PM.

Alexa Jurado

The State

Alexa Jurado is a news reporter for The State covering Lexington County and Richland County schools. She previously wrote about the University of South Carolina and contributes to this coverage. A Chicago suburbs native, Alexa graduated from Marquette University and previously wrote for publications in Illinois and Wisconsin. Her work has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, the Milwaukee Press Club and the South Carolina Press Association.