Hit-and-Run Driver Tragically Kills One in Dorchester County, South Carolina (SC)

DORCHESTER COUNTY, SC- Abcnews4.com writes that the South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal hit-and-run crash that left one person dead in Dorchester County. The crash occurred overnight and involved a 2018 GMC Denali that struck a person as well as two parked cars. Reports indicate that the tragedy occurred in the area of US 15 and Wire Road.*

After striking the victim and the two other vehicles, the driver fled the crash scene. Police are asking that anyone with information about the crash contact the South Carolina Highway Patrol or Crime Stoppers. 

When a driver strikes a person or object, they are legally obligated to remain at the scene of the crash. Fleeing the site of an accident is a criminal act. Despite the harsh legal consequences of committing a hit-and-run, these collisions are occurring more often every year. 

The AAA writes that hit-and-runs are increasing 7.2 percent each year in the United States. Pedestrians are the most likely victims in these crashes, but the reason for this may simply be a matter of the limited damage done to a car in a fatal pedestrian crash. In a deadly collision between two vehicles, the damage to the cars may prevent them from being drivable. When a driver strikes a person, the vehicles are often still capable of functioning.

South Carolina ranks sixteenth in the nation in deadly hit-and-runs. The state is also high on the list of fatal pedestrian crashes, coming in fourth according to at least one study. Sadly, both nationally and in South Carolina, the number of deadly pedestrian crashes is continuing to increase each year. 

Accident News is a safety and education initiative from Montlick & Associates, designed to help people better understand and thereby avoid common accident causes.  To learn more about our injury prevention programs, including iridesafe.com - click here. We hope you are never in an accident, but if you or a family member are injured, call Montlick & Associates 24/7 for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) or use our live chat at Montlick.com.

Sources:

https://abcnews4.com/news/crime-news/schp-seeking-info-on-deadly-dorchester-co-hit-and-run

https://www.cars.com/articles/hit-and-run-deaths-are-way-up-how-dangerous-is-your-state-1420699813513/

https://www.ghsa.org/resources/news-releases/pedestrians20