Three killed in separate crashes mile apart on Midlands road, SC Highway Patrol says
Three people were killed and another person was hospitalized following two separate collisions that happened about a mile apart overnight Monday, South Carolina Highway Patrol said.
Four vehicles were involved in two unrelated crashes that occurred within three hours of each other on a small stretch of U.S. 178, Master Trooper Brian Lee said Tuesday morning.
Three of the four drivers involved were killed in the Memorial Day wrecks, while the fourth was hurt and taken to an area hospital, according to Lee.
A three-vehicle collision happened at about 8:30 p.m., Lee said. That crash took place near Shillings Bridge Road in Orangeburg, Highway Patrol reported.
A 2010 Lincoln MKT was heading east on U.S. 178 when it smashed into a Kia SUV that disregarded a stop sign, Lee said.
The collision caused the Kia to run off the road, where it flipped over and hit a tree, according to Lee. At the same time, the Lincoln was forced into the westbound lane of U.S. 178 where it rammed into a 1988 Chevrolet, Lee said.
The drivers of the Kia and the Chevy were not wearing seat belts and both died, according to Lee.
They will be publicly identified by the Orangeburg County Coroner’s Office after their families have been notified.
The driver of the Lincoln was taken to an area hospital, Lee said. Further information on the driver’s condition was not available and there was no word if that person was wearing a seat belt.
No other injuries were reported in the three-vehicle collision, but another driver died in a wreck just down the road at about 11 p.m.
A Lexus was the only vehicle involved in the second crash that occurred near Stillwood Circle, according to Lee.
The Lexus was heading west on U.S. 178 when it ran off the right side of the road and overturned before smashing into a utility pole, Lee said.
The driver was wearing a seat belt but was killed, Highway Patrol reported. The coroner’s office will publicly identify the Lexus driver after notifying the next of kin.
Information on what caused the vehicle to veer off the road was not available, but both deadly collisions remain under investigation by Highway Patrol.
Through Friday, 292 people have died on South Carolina roads in 2020, according to the Department of Public Safety. Of those deaths, 210 of the victims had access to seat belts, and 116 were not wearing safety restraints, DPS said.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
