Men from Columbia & Lexington County killed when tractor trailer rolls over, coroner says

Two people were killed Friday when a tractor trailer ran off a Midlands road and overturned, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

James Lee Hall, a 52-year-old Swansea resident, and Orbelin Rodriquez Gomez, a 44-year-old Columbia resident, died in the accident, Fairfield County Coroner Chris Hill said Monday.

The single-vehicle collision happened at about 4:15 p.m. Friday in Fairfield County, said Lance Cpl. William Bennett of the Highway Patrol.

A 2010 Peterbilt truck was driving south on S.C. 215/Monticello Road when it ran off the right side, according to Bennett. The tractor trailer hit a ditch and a sign flipped over, Bennett said.

Hall, who was driving the crane truck, lost control, Hill said.

Both Hall and Rodriquez Gomez, who was a passenger, died at the scene, according to Hill.

There was no word if Hall and Rodriquez Gomez were wearing seat belts.

Bennett said Hall and Rodriquez Gomez were the only people in the tractor trailer, and no other injuries were reported.

Hill said both his office and the Highway Patrol are continuing to investigate the crash.

Autopsies have been scheduled for both Hall and Rodriquez Gomez to determine their exact causes of death, according to Hill.

Through July 4, at least 489 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 seven people have died in Fairfield County crashes in 2023, according to DPS data. Last year, nine deaths were reported in the county, DPS reported.

This story was originally published July 9, 2023 at 10:32 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