Columbia man killed when car and train collided, Richland County coroner says
One person was killed Thursday morning when an Amtrak train and car collided in Columbia, police said.
Jeremy Johonn Williams, a 32-year-old Columbia resident was the driver who died, according to Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford.
At about 6 a.m., officers responded to the deadly wreck near the intersection of Cushman Drive and Ames Road, police said. That’s in the area between Farrow Road and North Main Street, and about 3 miles from Prisma Health Richland hospital.
One person was in the car, according to police.
No other injuries were reported.
The train was traveling north on the tracks while Williams was driving west in the 5600 block of Koon Road, police said.
After reviewing surveillance video, the crossing gate and warning lights at the railroad crossing were active and operating properly, but Williams disregarded the traffic control device by driving around the crossing gate and entering the crossing zone, according to police.
The train hit the car on the driver’s side, police said.
EMS took Williams to a local hospital where he died, according to police.
As a result of the crash, that area was temporarily closed as the police department’s traffic safety unit investigated.
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This story was originally published May 19, 2022 at 8:31 AM.
