Jeep driver killed in crash with pickup truck is identified by SC coroner

One person was killed and two others were hospitalized following a Saturday crash on a Midlands-area road, South Carolina Highway Patrol said.

James E. Keller, a 57-year-old Orangeburg resident died, according to the Orangeburg County Coroner’s Office.

The two-vehicle collision happened at about 4:20 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 15/Bass Drive and S.C. 210/Vance Road, according to Sgt. Sonny Collins of Highway Patrol. That’s in Orangeburg County, near Exit 93 on Interstate 95, and about 10 miles south of Lake Marion.

A 2019 Ford pickup truck was driving north on U.S. 15 when it collided with a 2003 Jeep that was heading west on S.C. 210, Collins said. Keller, the driver of the Jeep, disregarded a stop sign at the intersection, according to Collins.

Keller was not wearing a seat belt, Collins said.

There were two people in the pickup truck, and both were taken to an area hospital, according to Collins. Further information on their conditions was not available.

There was no word if either occupant in the Ford wore a seat belt.

No other injuries were reported.

The crash continues to be investigated by Highway Patrol.

Through Sunday, 1,063 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2021, state Department of Public Safety data shows. Of those, 703 of the victims had access to seat belts, but 347 were not wearing them, DPS reported.

At least 43 people have been killed in Orangeburg County crashes in 2021, and 27 of them were not wearing seat belts, DPS reported.

This story was originally published December 19, 2021 at 9:23 AM.

Noah Feit

The State

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Noah Feit is a Real Time reporter with The State focused on breaking news, public safety and trending news. The award-winning journalist has worked for multiple newspapers since starting his career in 1999. Support my work with a digital subscription