SC sheriff’s deputy killed on duty in crash with another driver who died, cops say
A South Carolina law enforcement officer died in the line of duty Monday in a car crash that killed another driver, the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputy Jeremy Ladue was killed in the crash that happened around 1:40 a.m. on Savannah Highway, the sheriff’s office said in a news release. That’s in the West Ashley area, where Ladue patrolled, according to the release.
While he was driving his patrol car, another vehicle collided with Ladue, the sheriff’s office said.
The second vehicle was a 2013 Hyundai Genesis, according to Lance Cpl. Tyler Tidwell of the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Both Ladue and the driver of the other vehicle were killed, according to the release.
Ladue was not wearing a seat belt, and it is not known if the other driver had a seat belt on, Tidwell said.
No other injuries were reported.
Ladue and the other driver were both taken to the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston where they died, Tidwell said.
The Charleston County Coroner’s Office will publicly identify the other driver after notifying the next of kin.
Information on the cause of the wreck was not available, but it is being investigated by Highway Patrol.
The sheriff’s office said Ladue had worked there since February 2019.
“The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office mourns the loss of Deputy Ladue,” it said in the release. Ladue’s “coworkers admired him his dependability and enthusiasm. Our condolences go out to his family members and friends.”
Other law enforcement agencies shared memorials for Ladue.
“We are mourning the loss of one of our own today,” the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department said on Twitter with an emoji of a broken heart.
Prior to the collision, 206 people have died on South Carolina roads in 2020, according to the Department of Public Safety. Of those deaths, 144 of the victims had access to seat belts, and 73 were not wearing safety restraints, DPS said.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
This story was originally published April 13, 2020 at 8:49 AM.
