Driver trying to escape from law enforcement killed in Lexington County crash, SC cops say

One person was killed Wednesday when a motorcycle crashed into a car on a Lexington County road, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Travis Leon Horton, a 38-year-old Pelion resident, is the motorcycle rider who died in what Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher called an accident.

Horton was trying to escape from Gaston Police officers, said Capt. Adam Myrick of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Information about why Horton was trying to get away was not available.

The two-vehicle collision happened at about 3:15 p.m., according to Master Trooper Brandon Bolt of the Highway Patrol.

Both a 2014 Chevrolet sedan and a 2008 Suzuki motorcycle were driving north on Meadowfield Road, Bolt said. The Chevy slowed for traffic when the Suzuki crashed into the car, according to Bolt.

Horton, who was not wearing a helmet, died at the scene, the coroner’s office said.

Bolt said the Chevy driver, who was the only person in the car, was not hurt. No other injuries were reported.

There was no word if the Chevy driver wore a seat belt.

The crash continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol and coroner’s office.

Through Sunday, 130 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2025, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, at least 948 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported.

At least three people have died in Lexington County crashes in 2025, according to DPS data. There were 50 deaths in the county in 2024, DPS reported.

This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 12:28 PM.

Noah Feit

The State

803-771-8435

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