Two drivers killed in head-on crash on South Carolina road, Highway Patrol says

Two people were killed Tuesday night when the vehicles they were driving crashed head-on, the South Carolina Highway Patrol said.

The two-vehicle collision happened at about 6:50 p.m. in Laurens County, according to Lance Cpl. Brittany Glover.

A 2006 Ford Mustang was driving north on S.C. 101, Glover said. A 2020 Nissan Rogue SUV was heading south, but was in the northbound lane, according to Glover.

Near the intersection with Lakeview Drive, the Mustang swerved into the southbound lane to avoid a collision, but the Rogue also moved into the southbound lane and the SUV hit the car head-on, Glover said.

The drivers of both vehicles died at the scene, according to Glover.

The Laurens County Coroner’s Office has not publicly identified the victims.

Glover said the drivers were the only people in each vehicle, and no other injuries were reported.

There was no word if either of the drivers were wearing seat belts.

The crash happened close to Exit 16 on Interstate 385 in the Gray Court area.

Information about what caused the SUV to originally veer into oncoming traffic was not available, but the crash remains under investigation by the Highway Patrol.

Through Sunday, 599 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2023, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, 1,091 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported.

At least 12 people have died in Laurens County crashes in 2023, according to DPS data. Last year, 24 deaths were reported in the county, DPS reported.