Columbia woman killed in head-on crash with tow truck, SC officials say
A Columbia woman was killed in a head-on crash involving an SUV and a tow truck.
Jessica Rea, 35, died Monday, according to Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford.
The two-vehicle collision happened at about noon near the intersection of Winnsboro Road and Wilson Circle, said Lance Cpl. Tyler Tidwell of South Carolina Highway Patrol. That’s in the Blythewood area of Richland County, between Monticello Road and Interstate 77.
Rea was driving a 2021 Chevrolet SUV north on Winnsboro Road when the vehicle crossed left of the center line and into oncoming traffic, crashing with a 2017 tow truck heading in the opposite direction, according to Tidwell.
Rea was taken to Prisma Health Richland hospital where she died, Tidwell said.
The tow truck driver was not hurt, and no other injuries were reported by Highway Patrol.
There was no word if any of the occupants in the collision wore seat belts.
Information about why the Chevy veered into oncoming traffic was not available, but the collision continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol.
Through Monday morning, 74 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.
At least five people have been killed in Richland County crashes in 2022, while 64 died last year, according to DPS.
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This story was originally published February 8, 2022 at 8:27 AM.
