22-year-old West Columbia man killed in burning car that crashed into tree, coroner says
A West Columbia man was killed in a recent crash in Lexington County, the South Carolina Highway Patrol said Sunday.
Joel Van Smith, 22, died in the July 2 accident, Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher said Sunday.
The single-vehicle collision happened at about 10 p.m. by Pine Plain Road, according to Lance Cpl. Nick Pye.
A 2008 Honda sedan was driving south when it ran off the left side of the road near the intersection with Huckabee Mill Road, Pye said. That’s in the Gaston area, between Interstate 26 and U.S. 321.
Smith failed to navigate a curve in the road, according to Fisher.
After leaving the road, the Honda smashed into a tree, Pye said. The collision caused the vehicle to catch on fire and Smith, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene, according to Fisher.
No other injuries were reported.
The crash continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol.
Through Thursday, 536 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2022, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, 1,194 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported.
At least 19 people have died in Lexington County crashes in 2022, DPS reported. Last year, 57 deaths were reported there, according to DPS data.
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This story was originally published July 3, 2022 at 8:04 AM.
