West Columbia man killed, one hospitalized after SUV rams van on Midlands highway
One driver was killed and another was hospitalized after an SUV smashed into a van at an intersection on a Midlands road Tuesday, South Carolina Highway Patrol said.
The two-vehicle collision occurred at about 2:15 p.m. at the intersection of S.C. 34 and Smallwood Road in Fairfield County, Master Trooper David Jones said. That is about 20 miles north of Columbia.
A 2010 Acura SUV was heading west on the highway when it crashed into the passenger side of a 2017 Chevrolet van, according to Jones.
The Chevy was on Smallwood, crossing the highway when it was struck, Jones said.
The drivers of both vehicles were wearing seat belts and were injured in the wreck, Highway Patrol reported.
Both were taken to a Richland County hospital, where the person driving the Acura died, according to Jones.
That was identified as Mark Wakefield, a 43-year-old from West Columbia, according to Fairfield County Coroner Chris Hill.
The South Carolina resident driving the Chevy van suffered minor injuries, Jones said.
Further information on the Chevy driver’s condition was not available.
There is no word if there will be any criminal charges filed in the collision, which remains under investigation by Highway Patrol.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
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This story was originally published December 4, 2019 at 7:07 AM.
