SC man driving tractor on road killed in collision with truck, officials say
A man riding a John Deere tractor on an area road was killed in a collision with a tractor trailer, South Carolina Highway Patrol said.
The two-vehicle crash happened just before 5 p.m. Tuesday on U.S. 378, Lance Cpl. Tyler Tidwell said. The wreck was near the intersection with East Friendfield Road, about 80 miles east of Columbia.
The tractor was heading west on U.S. 378 when it was hit from behind by the 18-wheel truck, according to Tidwell.
The tractor rider died, and the Florence County Coroner’s Office later identified him as Walt Gaskins, the Florence Morning News reported. There was no word if the 54-year-old Lake City man died at the scene, or if he was taken to an area hospital.
The driver of the 2003 Sterling tractor trailer was wearing a seat belt and was not hurt, Tidwell said.
Information on what caused the crash was not available, and there was no word if any criminal charges will be filed.
The wreck is being investigated by Highway Patrol.
Prior to the collision, 525 people have died on South Carolina roads in 2020, according to the Department of Public Safety.
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