The South Carolina Highway Patrol say that the driver who caused an accident that claimed the life of a 21-year-old Summerville man during the early morning hours of Aug. 30 ran through a red light just before he crashed. The man has not yet been charged, but the SCHP says that the incident is still being investigated by the Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team.
The car accident took place at the intersection of Highway 17A and Black Tom Road near Monks corner in Berkeley County at approximately 5:24 a.m. Police say that a Hyundai sedan struck the side of a Ford Taurus after disregarding a traffic signal. The Ford was in the process of turning onto the northbound lanes of Highway 17A from Black Tom Road when it was struck. Police officers arriving at the scene closed down all lanes of Highway 17A to allow paramedics and accident investigators to go about their duties. The highway was reopened after about six hours, according to reports.
The man who had been behind the wheel of the Ford was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services personnel. Reports indicate that he was not properly restrained at the time of the crash. He was later identified by the Berkeley County coroner. The driver of the Hyundai suffered injuries in the accident and was transported by ambulance to an area hospital for treatment.
An experienced personal injury attorney may pursue compensation for the family members of someone killed by a negligent driver. A wrongful death lawsuit is often contentious because the damages involved are usually high. However, an attorney could work toward obtaining a fair settlement.
