Driver killed when car flips over is identified by Lexington County coroner

One person was killed Monday in a crash where a car flipped over, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Walter F. Westmoreland, a 71-year-old Gilbert resident, died in the crash, Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher said.

The single-vehicle collision happened at about 7:10 a.m. in Lexington County, said Cpl. Tyler Tidwell.

Westmoreland was driving a 2005 Toyota Camry south on Two Notch Road, and ran off the right side of the road near the intersection of Juniper Springs Road, according to Tidwell. That’s about a mile from Gilbert High School, near Exit 44 on Interstate 20.

The car overcorrected and crossed over the road, ultimately running off the left side and flipping over, Fisher said.

Westmoreland, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene, according to Fisher.

Tidwell said the driver was the only person in the car, and no other injuries were reported.

An autopsy was conducted Tuesday, and the results are pending, Fisher said.

Information about why the car originally veered off the road was not available, but the crash remains under investigation by the Highway Patrol and coroner’s office.

Through Monday, 409 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2023, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, 1,091 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported.

At least 14 people have died in Lexington County crashes in 2023, according to DPS data. Last year, 43 deaths were reported in the county, DPS reported.

This story was originally published May 30, 2023 at 9:18 AM.

Noah Feit

The State

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Noah Feit is a Real Time reporter with The State focused on breaking news, public safety and trending news. The award-winning journalist has worked for multiple newspapers since starting his career in 1999. Support my work with a digital subscription