Teenagers killed in multi-vehicle crash, South Carolina officials say
Two teenagers were killed Sunday and a third person was hospitalized from a multi-vehicle crash, South Carolina officials said.
The three-vehicle collision happened at about 12:30 p.m. in Abbeville County, according to Master Trooper Brandon Bolt of the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
A 2013 Nissan sedan was driving south on S.C. 81 when it crossed the center line, Bolt said. The Nissan hit a boat trailer being pulled by a 2013 Ford pickup truck, then crashed head-on into a 2022 Ram pickup, according to Bolt.
Both pickups were driving north on S.C. 81 when the collision happened, Bolt said.
The Abbeville County Coroner’s Office said two males were in the Nissan, a 16-year-old driver and 15-year-old passenger, WSPA reported. The coroner’s office said their names are not being made public because of their ages, according to WHNS.
The coroner said the Nissan driver died at the scene, while the passenger was airlifted to an Upstate hospital where he died, WSPA reported.
While the Ford driver was not hurt, Bolt said the Ram driver was injured and taken to an area hospital. Further information on the Ram driver’s condition was not available.
No other injures were reported.
The coroner’s office said that Nissan driver was not wearing a seat belt, WYFF reported.
There was no word if the passenger in the Nissan, or either of the pickup drivers, were wearing seat belts.
Information about what caused the Nissan to veer into oncoming traffic was not available, but the crash 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 four people have died in Abbeville County crashes in 2023, according to DPS data. Last year, seven deaths were reported in the county, DPS reported.
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