Aiken County authorities are investigating a single-vehicle crash that resulted in a fatality Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 20.
According to initial reports from Coroner Darryl Ables, a 2002 Mitsubishi Galant was traveling westbound on Interstate 20 when, for reasons yet to be determined, the vehicle veered off the right side of the road near Exit 6. Subsequently, it collided with a traffic sign before careening into multiple trees. The impact caused the vehicle to erupt in flames.
Tragically, the driver of the Mitsubishi Galant was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Due to the severity of the thermal injuries sustained in the fire, immediate identification of the driver has proven challenging. The deceased individual will undergo an autopsy in Newberry, S.C., to ascertain their identity and determine the precise cause of death, Ables said.
Coroner Ables has confirmed that his office, in collaboration with the South Carolina Highway Patrol, is actively pursuing an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. As of now, additional details regarding the incident, including the identity of the deceased, have not been released pending further investigation.
