Executive Summary
- A single-vehicle crash on U.S. 601 South resulted in one fatality on December 28.
- The South Carolina Highway Patrol reported the vehicle struck a tree near the Lena Expressway.
- Separately, one person was injured in a shooting incident in the Scotia area on December 27.
- The Hampton County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the shooting.
Hampton County emergency services responded to two significant incidents over the holiday weekend involving a fatal single-vehicle collision and a separate shooting that resulted in an injury. The events, occurring within a 24-hour window, remain under investigation by state and local law enforcement agencies.
According to Lance Corporal Brittany Glover of the South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP), the traffic fatality occurred at approximately 2 a.m. on Sunday, December 28. A 2018 Nissan Maxima traveling north on U.S. 601 South near the Lena Expressway veered off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree about one mile north of Furman. The driver, who was the vehicle’s sole occupant, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Hampton County Coroner’s Office.
The identity of the deceased has not been publicly released pending notification of next of kin. The S.C. Department of Public Safety noted that this incident contributed to a preliminary statewide total of 11 roadway fatalities reported during the Christmas holiday travel period.
In an unrelated incident, the Hampton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) reported responding to a shooting in the Scotia area near Malone Ferguson Road at approximately 4:45 p.m. on Saturday, December 27. Deputies confirmed that one individual sustained a gunshot wound during the altercation. Details regarding the victim’s condition have not been disclosed.
Investigative Outlook
Both matters remain under active investigation as authorities work to finalize their findings. The SCHP is continuing its technical analysis of the fatal crash dynamics, while the HCSO is soliciting public assistance to advance the inquiry into the shooting. As the investigation into the shooting remains active, law enforcement officials have encouraged anyone with relevant information to contact the HCSO Tip Line. No specific suspects have been named in the shooting incident at this time.
