Man killed in five-vehicle crash on South Carolina road, coroner says
A driver was recently killed in a chain-of-events crash involving multiple vehicles, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Jerrold Freeman, a 76-year-old from the Lake Wateree area who was formally from New Jersey, died Feb. 20 in what Fairfield County Coroner Chris Hill called an accident.
The five-vehicle collision happened at about noon on U.S. 21 in Fairfield County, said Master Trooper Hannah Davidson of the Highway Patrol. It was in the Blythewood area, near the line with Richland County.
Freeman was driving a 2025 Kia Sportage, one of three vehicles in the wreck heading south on U.S. 21, according to Davidson. The other southbound vehicles were a 2007 Ford F-150 and a 2018 Lexus SUV, Davidson said.
At the same time, a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban and a 2019 Hino 338 semi truck were driving north on U.S. 21, according to Davidson.
Near the intersection at Smith Lane the Chevy stopped for traffic, Davidson said. The Hino was behind the Chevy and swerved left of the center line before it sideswiped the Ford, according to Davidson. The Hino then crashed head-on into the Kia and collided with the Lexus as it ran off the road, where it hit multiple mailboxes and rolled over, Davidson said.
After the Lexus was hit by the Hino, the SUV then crashed into the Chevy, according to Davidson.
Freeman, who was wearing a seatbelt, died at the scene, Hill said.
No other injuries were reported.
There was no word if anyone else involved in the collision was wearing a seatbelt, but it continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol and coroner’s office.
An autopsy will be conducted with Newberry Pathology to determine the cause of death, Hill said.
Through Sunday, 93 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2026, according to the state Department of Public Safety. A minimum of 914 people were killed in collisions in South Carolina in 2025, DPS data shows.
At least one person has died in a Fairfield County crash this year, and seven people died in wrecks there in 2025, according to DPS data.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREThis is a breaking news story
In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.
