Road rage might have led to fire at gas station, Richland County sheriff says
A fire at a gas station in South Carolina on Sunday afternoon might have been caused by a road rage incident, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
Deputies are investigating a report of road rage leading to a fire involving multiple vehicles at the Spinx gas station in the 100 block of Lee Road, the sheriff’s department said Monday in a news release. That’s near the intersection with Hard Scrabble Road in Columbia.
At about 1 p.m. Sunday, deputies responded to report of a disturbance in the 1400 block of Summit Parkway, according to the release. That’s about mile from the gas station.
The person calling law enforcement claimed that they were being chased by another vehicle, the sheriff’s department said.
While deputies were on the way to that disturbance dispatchers alerted them that the incident was updated to a multiple vehicle collision with vehicle on fire at the Spinx gas station, according to the release. When deputies arrived members of the Columbia Fire Department were already working to extinguish the fire, the sheriff’s department said.
Two people were hurt and taken to an area hospital, according to the release. The sheriff’s department said neither of their injuries are considered life-threatening. Further information on their conditions was not available.
Three vehicles were “affected” by the fire that caused a gas pump to be engulfed by flames, the sheriff’s department said. Information about the extent of damage to the vehicles and the gas station was not available.
While speaking with the original caller, she told deputies that a vehicle was following her prior to the incident, but it drove away from the area after the collision, according to the release.
No arrests have been reported, but the incident continues to be investigated by the sheriff’s department.
Anyone with information about what led to the collision is asked to call the sheriff’s department at 803-576-3000, CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip.
In the case of an emergency, always call 911.
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This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 12:34 PM.
