Deadly hit-and-run crash happened overnight on highway in Lexington County, cops say
One person was killed in an overnight hit-and-run crash on a major highway running through Columbia, the South Carolina Highway Patrol said Tuesday.
A pedestrian died after being hit by an unknown vehicle near the 106 mile marker on Interstate 26, according to Lance Cpl. Nick Pye. That’s close to the St. Andrews Road exit in the area close to the Lexington County and Richland County line that’s called Malfunction Junction.
The vehicle was driving west on I-26 when it collided with the pedestrian who was on the highway at about 11:45 p.m., Pye said.
The Lexington County Coroner’s Office is expected to publicly identify the pedestrian after notifying the next of kin.
No other injuries were reported.
There was no word why the pedestrian was on I-26, or on a description of the vehicle, but it might have front end damage, according to the Highway Patrol which continues to investigate the crash continues.
Multiple westbound lanes on I-26 were temporarily closed following the collision, according to the South Carolina Department of Transportation.
Anyone with information is asked to call Highway Patrol at 864-241-1000 or 800-768-1503, or report it to CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip.
Through Monday, 545 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2022 — and 73 were pedestrians — according to the state Department of Public Safety. In 2021, 193 pedestrians were among the 1,194 people who died on South Carolina roads, DPS said.
At least 20 people have died in Lexington County crashes in 2022, DPS reported. Last year, 57 deaths were reported there, according to DPS data.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
