Train collides with box truck in Richland County, killing one and injuring more, cops say

One person was killed and two others were injured Monday when a train and a box truck collided in Richland County, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

The two-vehicle crash happened at about 3:45 p.m. on the tracks near the intersection of Third Street and Clarkson Road, said Lance Cpl. Brittany Glover. That’s in the Hopkins area, not far from McEntire Joint National Guard Base.

A 2018 box truck was driving east on Third Street when it collided with the southbound freight train, according to Glover.

Three people were in the truck, and one of them died at the scene, Glover said.

The Richland County Coroner’s Office has not publicly identified the victim who died.

The two other occupants of the truck were taken to a Richland County hospital, according to the Columbia Fire Department. Further information on their conditions was not available.

Glover said three people were on the train, and none of them were hurt. No other injuries were reported.

There was no word on what company owns and operates the train, or if it derailed during the crash.

Information about what led to the collision was not available, but the crash is under investigation, according to the fire department.

Through Sunday, 439 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 27 people have died in Richland County crashes in 2023, according to DPS data. Last year, 67 deaths were reported in the county, DPS reported.

This story was originally published June 13, 2023 at 7:43 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