One tragic incident on Wednesday resulted in the death of one individual and left three others hospitalized following a chain-reaction crash that caused a major disruption on Interstate 20 in South Carolina. The authorities confirmed that Andre Tyrone Eason, a 30-year-old resident of Augusta, Georgia, lost his life in the accident, as reported by Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher.
The harrowing multi-vehicle collision took place at approximately 9:45 near the 61-mile marker on I-20, situated in Lexington close to the Richland County line and Exit 61, the junction with U.S. 378. The South Carolina Highway Patrol, represented by Master Trooper William Bennett, provided details of the incident.
Eason was travelling east on I-20 in a 2020 Dodge Ram when the enclosed trailer being towed by the vehicle became detached, leading to the fatal sequence of events. The disabled pickup truck prompted Eason and another individual, identified as a pedestrian, to exit the vehicle and attempt to reattach the trailer, according to Bennett’s account.
Meanwhile, a 2017 Jeep Cherokee travelling east on I-20 tried to change lanes to avoid the disabled pickup, only to be rear-ended by an eastbound 1998 Dodge Ram. The impact caused the Cherokee to collide with the trailer, resulting in a fatal collision with Eason and the pedestrian at the scene.
Unfortunately, Eason succumbed to his injuries, while the pedestrian and the drivers of the SUV and the 1998 pickup sustained injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. While the drivers’ injuries were deemed non-life-threatening, further information on their conditions, as well as the pedestrian’s status, remains undisclosed.
The incident led to the temporary closure of all eastbound lanes on I-20, causing significant delays until the scene was finally cleared after 3 p.m., according to the South Carolina Department of Transportation. Both the Highway Patrol and the coroner’s office are actively investigating the crash to determine the exact circumstances that led to the tragic outcome.
As of the latest data available, 172 individuals have lost their lives in road accidents in South Carolina in 2024, with 13 fatalities reported in Lexington County alone. These figures underscore the critical need for continued efforts to enhance road safety and prevent further tragedies on the state’s highways..
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