Lawnmower is hit by pickup truck, killing SC man, officials say
A South Carolina man died in a hospital days after the John Deere lawnmower he was driving on a road was hit by a pickup truck, officials said Sunday.
John Johnson, a 76-year-old Abbeville resident, died at Greenville Memorial Hospital on Oct. 27, more than a week after the accident, according to Greenwood County Coroner Sonny Cox.
The two-vehicle collision happened at about 7:15 p.m. on Oct. 19, said Master Trooper Brandon Bolt of the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Johnson was driving the lawnmower south on Deadfall Road and was hit from behind by a 2018 Ram pickup that was heading in the same direction, according to Bolt. That’s near U.S. 178, not far from Greenwood High School. It’s also about 12 miles from Johnson’s home, according to the coroner’s office.
Johnson was airlifted to the hospital, where he died after suffering blunt force trauma, Cox said.
Bolt said the pickup driver was not hurt, and no other injuries were reported in the crash that continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol and coroner’s office.
Through Wednesday, 797 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 12 people have died in Greenwood County crashes in 2023, according to DPS data. Last year, 13 deaths were reported in the county, DPS reported.
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This story was originally published October 30, 2023 at 8:16 AM.
