Four killed in two separate crashes in same Midlands county, SC cops say
Four people were killed over the weekend in two separate crashes in Lee County, according to South Carolina Highway Patrol.
A driver and passenger died Friday in a wreck on Interstate 20, and less than two days later another driver and passenger were killed in an unrelated head-on collision, said Master Trooper David Jones.
The first crash was a single-vehicle collision, according to Jones.
At about 10:10 p.m. Friday, a 2017 Buick was driving east on I-20 when it ran off the right side of the highway near the 109 mile marker, Jones said. The car hit several trees before catching on fire, according to Jones.
The driver and a front-seat passenger died, Jones said.
There was no word about what caused the car to veer off I-20.
The second wreck happened at about 5:05 p.m. Sunday on S.C. 441/Woodrow Road, near the intersection with Lake Ashwood Road, according to Jones. That’s about 6 miles south of where Friday’s wreck occurred.
A 2002 Honda Accord was driving north on S.C. 441 when it crossed the center line and collided head-on with a southbound 2011 Ford pickup truck, Jones said.
The driver and a passenger in the Honda died on the scene, while the truck driver was taken to an area hospital with minor injuries, according to Jones. Further information on the truck driver’s condition was not available.
Information about what caused the car to veer into oncoming traffic was not available.
No other injuries were reported in either of the crashes, which continue to be investigated by Highway Patrol.
The Lee County Coroner’s Office is expected to publicly identify the crash victims after notifying their families.
There was no word if any of the occupants in the separate collisions wore seat belts.
Through Friday morning, 50 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2022, state Department of Public Safety data shows. Last year, 1,121 people died in crashes in South Carolina, according to DPS.
These are the first two fatal crashes in Lee County this year, while six people died there in 2021, according to DPS.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREThis is a breaking news story
In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.
This story was originally published January 31, 2022 at 9:51 AM.
