Teen motorcyclist killed in I-20 crash near Columbia

A teenage motorcyclist died late Wednesday in a crash on Interstate 20, about two miles north of Columbia, the South Carolina Highway Patrol said.

The motorcyclist, who was traveling west on I-20 at about 11:56 p.m., struck the rear of a trailer being towed by a Chevrolet pickup truck, Master Trooper William Bennett said.

The motorcyclist, identified as 19-year-old Aleena Upchurch, of Chapin, died at the scene, Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford said in a statement.

The two occupants of the truck were uninjured.

The collision remains under investigation by the coroner’s office and the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

This story was originally published July 18, 2025 at 8:13 AM.

Zak Koeske

The State

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Zak Koeske is a projects reporter for The State. He previously covered state government and politics for the paper. Before joining The State, Zak covered education, government and policing issues in the Chicago area. He’s also written for publications in his native Pittsburgh and the New York/New Jersey area.