Tragic Day on South Carolina Roads 5 Killed in 12-Hour Span in Same County, Police Report
According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, three deadly crashes occurred in Orangeburg County over 12 hours on Saturday, killing five people and injuring another.
The first crash
Master Trooper Gary Miller said that the initial collision, a two-vehicle wreck, occurred on Interstate 26 around 4:20 a.m.
Miller reported seeing a 2011 Ford Crown Victoria going east on I-26. Miller said the Ford was hit head-on by a 2003 Honda Odyssey van going west in the eastbound lanes of I-26 around mile 159.
Both drivers perished, and a passenger in the Ford was transferred to a nearby hospital, according to Miller. More information about the surviving victim’s condition was not accessible.
The Orangeburg County Coroner’s Office has not officially named the drivers. No other injuries were reported.
There was no information available regarding why the Honda was traveling toward oncoming traffic on I-26, but the Highway Patrol is still investigating the crash.
The second crash
Less than three hours later, there was another fatal accident in Orangeburg County.
Miller reported a single-vehicle crash at around 6:55 a.m.
Miller reported seeing a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado pickup vehicle driving south on U.S. 21. According to Miller, the pickup veered off the right side of the road near the Calhoun Street intersection and flipped.
The driver, who Miller claimed was the only person in the pickup, died.
The coroner’s office has not officially named the truck driver, and no further injuries have been reported.
There was no information available about what caused the pickup to go off the road, and Miller declined to say whether the Highway Patrol is still investigating the collision.
The third crash
Another fatal accident occurred in Orangeburg County around 4:20 p.m., according to Miller.
Miller said the two vehicles collided at the intersection of U.S. 601 and Scenic Drive.
A 2024 Freightliner tractor-trailer was going north on U.S. 601 when it collided with a 2020 Kawasaki ATV that was attempting to cross the road, according to Miller.
Miller reported that the ATV’s driver and passenger, both adolescents, were killed. The coroner’s office has not officially named the ATV’s occupants.
According to Miller, the driver was the sole person in the tractor-trailer and did not sustain any injuries.
There were no other injuries recorded, and Miller declined to say whether the Highway Patrol is still investigating the collision.
It was unclear whether any of the persons involved in the three collisions were wearing seat belts or other safety devices.
According to the state Department of Public Safety, at least 582 people have died on South Carolina roadways in 2024 as of September 1. According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, 1,030 persons were killed in collisions last year.
DPS data show that at least 34 people died in Orangeburg County collisions in 2024. DPS reported 36 deaths in the county in 2023.