Driver killed when SUV crashes into tree as Idalia dumped rain on SC, officials say

One person was killed Wednesday night when an SUV crashed into a tree as the remnants of Hurricane Idalia affected Richland County, officials said.

The single-vehicle collision happened at about 7:20 p.m. on Rabbit Run near Lower Richland High School, according to Lance Cpl. Lena Butler of the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

That was just after the heaviest rains on Wednesday, and wind gusts as powerful as 25 mph were recorded at about that time in the Columbia area, according to Weather Underground.

A 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe was driving west on Rabbit Run and veered off the road near the intersection with Trotter Road, Butler said.

The SUV crashed into a tree and the driver was taken to an area hospital and later died, according to Butler.

The Richland County Coroner’s Office has not publicly identified the driver.

Butler said the driver was the only person in the Chevy, and no other injuries were reported.

There was no word if the driver was wearing a seat belt.

Information about why the SUV ran off the road was not available, but the crash continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol.

The Highway Patrol did not say that the weather was a cause of the wreck.

Through Tuesday, 663 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 40 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 August 31, 2023 at 8:58 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