Driver leading police chase killed in crash that hurts two others, SC cops say
One person was killed and two others were hospitalized when a police chase in the Midlands ended in a multi-vehicle crash, the South Carolina Highway Patrol said.
The wreck happened less than two weeks after an unrelated crash in the same area killed two people following a high-speed police chase.
Wednesday’s two-vehicle collision happened at about 4 p.m. on the U.S. 21 Bypass near S.C. 33, according to Lance Cpl. Tyler Tidwell. That’s in Orangeburg, near the campus of South Carolina State University.
A 2006 Chevrolet Colorado was driving south on U.S. 21 Bypass, and was attempting to get away from law enforcement officers, Tidwell said.
As the Chevy pickup truck approached S.C. 33, it hit a 2020 Toyota Camry that was also driving south on the bypass, according to Tidwell.
The pickup driver died, Tidwell said. Information about if the driver died at the scene, or was first taken to an area hospital, was not available.
The Orangeburg County Coroner’s Office is expected to publicly identify the Chevy driver after notifying the next of kin.
A passenger in the Chevy and the driver of the Toyota were taken to an area hospital after suffering minor injuries, Tidwell said. Further information on their conditions was not available.
No other injuries were reported.
There was no word if any of the occupants involved in the crash wore a seat belt.
Information on what led to the chase was not available, but it’s being investigated by the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety. The crash remains under investigation by the Highway Patrol.
Through Tuesday, 147 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2022, according to the Department of Public Safety. Last year, 1,149 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported.
At least four people have been killed in Orangeburg County crashes in 2022, according to DPS.
That includes two women who recently died in a two-vehicle collision during a high-speed police chase in that same area.
South Carolina State University officials said a recent graduate, Zeleria Simpson, and a current student, Shemyia Riley, died in the Feb. 25 crash on S.C. 33.
Three other students were hurt in the wreck, including 23-year-old Fuquan Mekhi C. Hills, who was later arrested. Hills was charged with two counts of failure to stop for blue lights resulting in death, one count of failure to stop for blue lights resulting in great bodily injury, two counts of felony DUI involving death, one count of felony DUI with great bodily injury, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, unlawful possession of a firearm, and open container of alcohol.
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 March 10, 2022 at 8:25 AM.
