Driver killed in crash where van hits ditch and trees near Midlands road, SC cops say
One person was killed in a crash near a Midlands road where a van crashed and flipped over, South Carolina Highway Patrol said Tuesday.
The single-vehicle collision happened at about 8:30 a.m. Monday on S.C. 39, according to Master Trooper Brandon Bolt. The wreck was in the Ridge Spring area of Saluda County, near the intersection with Murphy Farm Road.
A 2002 Ford Econoline van was heading south on S.C. 39 when it ran off the left side of the road and hit a ditch before crashing into trees and overturning, Bolt said.
The driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the van when it flipped over, according to Bolt.
The driver was taken to an area hospital and later died, Bolt said.
The Saluda County Coroner’s Office is expected to publicly identify the driver after notifying the next of kin.
No other injuries were reported.
There was no word on what caused the van to veer off the road, but the crash continues to be investigated by Highway Patrol.
Through Sunday, 1,048 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2021, state Department of Public Safety data shows. Of those, 696 of the victims had access to seat belts, but 341 were not wearing them, DPS reported.
At least seven people have been killed in Saluda County crashes in 2021, and three of them were not wearing seat belts, DPS reported.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
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This story was originally published December 14, 2021 at 10:14 AM.
