5-car crash kills married couple

According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, a pickup truck broadsided a sedan carrying a 29-year-old man and his 28-year-old wife in Seneca around 7:40 p.m. on Sept. 6. The Highway Patrol took the 52-year-old truck driver into custody, charged him with two counts of felony DUI with death and transported him to Oconee County Detention Center. He also had two bench warrants out for his arrest at the time of the crash.

The crash involved five vehicles and occurred on Sandifer Boulevard near U.S. 123 and Wells Highway. The man in the sedan was not wearing his seat belt at the time of the accident, causing him to be ejected from the car. He died of blunt force trauma at the scene. His wife was wearing her seat belt, was trapped in the car and suffered cardiac arrest. Paramedics transported her to Oconee Medical Center where doctors pronounced her dead. The coroner stated that she suffered blunt force trauma in the accident as well.

Four other people suffered injuries from the accident. Medics airlifted one to Greenville Memorial, and EMS transported the other three to Oconee Medical Center. One driver escaped the accident without injury, according to the Highway Patrol.

When a car accident results in the death of one or more people, the relatives of the deceased may consider filing a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver for compensation. If the at-fault driver is insured, then that person’s insurance company may be liable for damages. In most cases, an insurance company will make a settlement offer to avoid lengthy court proceedings. If the driver is uninsured, then that person may be personally liable for all of the damages caused by the crash.

Source: WSPA, “Man Charged In Five-Car Seneca Crash; Married Couple Killed“, September 06, 2014