Driver dies after veering into oncoming traffic on highway in Richland County, cops say

One person was killed Monday in a crash with an oncoming SUV on a Richland County stretch of a major interstate, the South Carolina Highway Patrol said.

The two-vehicle collision happened at about 4:30 p.m. at the 24 mile marker on Interstate 77, according to Master Trooper Brandon Bolt.

A 2005 Toyota Corolla was driving south on I-77 when it crossed the median and hit the side of a northbound 2020 Honda SUV, Bolt said. That’s near Exit 24 on I-77, which is the junction with U.S. 21 in Blythewood.

While the Honda driver was not hurt, the Toyota driver died, according to Bolt. Information if the Toyota driver died at the scene was not available.

The Richland County Coroner’s Office has not publicly identified the Toyota driver.

No other injuries were reported.

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

Information about why the Toyota veered across I-77 was not available, but the collision continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol.

Through Sunday, 766 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2022, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, 1,194 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported.

At least 48 people have been killed in Richland County crashes in 2022, according to DPS. There were 73 deaths there last year, DPS data shows.